Potential of the native bamboo Guadua aculeata Rurp. for the carbon credit market

in natural stands of the native bamboo Guadua aculeata Rupr. at the “Las Margaritas” Experimental Station, and assess the economic value in a voluntary carbon credit market. Design/methodology/approach: A forest biomass and carbon inventory was conducted in stands of G. aculeata in Puebla, Mexico. Using a simple random sampling design, 12 square plots of 100 m2 each were established, and the diameter at breast height (DBH) was measured in each bamboo individual. Aboveground dry biomass for structural components (culm, branches and leaves) and total biomass per individual were estimated with a system of additive equations; the carbon ( C ) concentration was obtained with C fractions of 0.46, 0.44 and 0.42 for culm, branches and leaves, respectively. Results: On average, the stands contained 263.14 Mg·ha-1 of biomass; distributed in 91% for culm, 5% in branches and 4% in the leaves. The average carbon stock was 120.34 Mg·ha-1. At the farm level, the carbon inventory and storage amounted to 7,701.73 Mg in 64 ha of bamboo stands forest. Annual carbon sequestration was estimated at 23.72 Mg·ha-1 per year, equivalent to mitigating 87.05 Mg·ha-1 of CO2e per year, representing an economic value of $3,133.8 MXN. Limitations on study/implications: Biomass, carbon, and CO₂ in mulch and soil were not quantified. Findings/conclusions: G. aculeata demonstrates high potential for inclusion in the carbon credit market.