Armazenamento de carbono em ecossistemas sul-americanos: uma revisão integrativa em larga escala e as consequências das mudanças no uso da terra em Minas Gerais (Brasil)

Abstract

The increase in land use and land cover changes are among the main factors of pressure on terrestrial ecosystems, directly affecting their ability to provide ecosystem services. Among these, carbon storage stands out for its importance in mitigating climate change. However, despite its relevance, there are still significant gaps in our understanding of how changes in different types of land use influence ecosystem services, especially in South American territories. In this study, we investigated the carbon storage capacity associated with different classes of land use and land cover in South America through an integrative review of the scientific literature. Based on the median values of SOC (soil organic carbon) and TOC (total organic carbon), we developed a carbon storage capacity matrix and identified patterns, gaps, and thematic and geographical disparities in the research. In addition, we conducted a case study in the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region (Minas Gerais, Brazil), analyzing changes in land use and their impacts on carbon stocks between 2003 and 2023, based on data from MapBiomas. The review identified a concentration of studies in agricultural areas compared to their current distribution in the landscape. Open ecosystems, on the other hand, were less represented, despite their high carbon storage capacity. In the case study, we identified significant carbon losses associated with the conversion of natural areas into urban and agricultural zones, resulting in an estimated gross loss of between 2.89 and 3.55 million Mg of carbon during the period. The results highlight the need for caution when analyzing carbon stocks isolately, since effective policies must include biodiversity conservation and landscape multifunctionality.