Aínsa Carbon Sink (PSCA): Sobrarbe SumitCO2Ambar La Serreta Forest, José Antonio Murillo The carbon fixed by the terrestrial ecosystem is dynamically distributed between living plant biomass, dead plant biomass and soil.
If the net balance of carbon fluxes, removals and emissions is positive, we will find terrestrial ecosystems that actively act as carbon sinks.
This is the case of ecosystems that are growing, fixing more carbon than they emit. Forest systems, especially forests, potentially contribute to climate change mitigation through their influence on the global carbon cycle: they store carbon in vegetation and soil, exchange it with the atmosphere through plant respiration and microbial activity, are sources of carbon emissions when disturbed, and again become carbon sinks during the regeneration and growth processes that follow disturbance.
The carbon stored in the ecosystem grows as the maturity of the tree stand increases. The FCQ, the Aínsa-Sobrarbe Town Council, ReTree and the AGORA Group signed an agreement in June 2022 to develop a carbon sink project in Aínsa (PSCA), called Sobrarbe SumitCO2, which will be carried out by planting forests on a 9-hectare plot of land owned by the municipality, in the natural area of La Serreta, at the confluence of the Cinca and Ara rivers, near Aínsa.
In the Ambar Forest La Serreta, José Antonio Murillo 2000 trees will be planted, mostly holm oaks or kermes oaks. After its degradation during the last century, it will return to its original ecological state, generating biodiversity and natural wealth, as well as helping to respond positively as a voluntary compensation of CO2 emissions.
The company ReTree will be in charge of the reforestation tasks with the preparation of the land, planting and auxiliary works, as well as the certification of the “Compenso” seal of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITERD).
With this project, local employment will be created and volunteer activities will be carried out with local personnel from October of this year until March 2023.
This initiative will offset the carbon footprint of a total of 300 tons of CO2, regenerating 22,220m2 of forest, thus favoring the aquifers (with a water benefit of 65,000,000 liters) and animal biodiversity in the environment.
FCQ, through its stewardship agreement with the City Council, promotes and carries out the environmental assessment.
The Agora Group finances the project as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the City Council cedes the land for 40 years.
