Carbon storage in mountain cloud forest communities, Jalpan de Serra, Querétaro, México

The results show that the carbon sequestration potential of the MCF is found in the soil associated with the organic horizons that develop at the surface and the presence of deep A horizons with high carbon content. The conservation of these layers, despite forest management, reflected in the aerial biomass, demonstrates the resilience of the soil due to carbon stabilization, attributed to the composition of resistant organic compounds and the formation of clay-humus complexes, which reduce the impact of degradation from erosion. This indicates that the conditions of the MCF still sustain the ecological and biogeochemical processes that support carbon sequestration and are regulated by the conservation policies of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, Querétaro, Mexico.