Assessment of unintended effects of ditches on ecosystem services provided by Iztaccihuatl-Popocatépetl National Park, Mexico

The Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl National Park is a remnant of high-mountain conifer forests and grasslands that provides ecosystem services to Mexico City. This research assesses the impact constructing ditches, through modeling infiltration, soil erosion, carbon sequestration with hydrological model SWAT, based on information (bulk density, organic carbon, depth) obtained from ditches. resulting estimates revealed construction ditches negatively impacted provision following services: (i) alterations natural conditions allow water infiltration in more than 25% 1 ha grasslands, up 20% forests; (ii) increase potential erosion by 60%; (iii) 30 217 t 4522 becoming exposed prone mineralization forests, respectively.