Biophysical Integration and Cartographic Modeling of Ecosystem Services in the Bajo Sinú Wetland Complex: A Case Study from Colombia Using the ECOSER Protocol

The Bajo Sinú Wetland Complex (CCBS for its acronym in Spanish) constitutes one of the most critical marsh systems in the Colombian Caribbean and represents one of the most relevant hydric ecoregions in the country. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate and map the relative provision of ecosystem services in the CCBS through the implementation of the ECOSER protocol. Using cartographic models, the specific requirements necessary to map seven of the nine ecosystem functions included in the ECOSER protocol that proved critical for the CCBS were defined: soil organic carbon storage, biomass carbon storage, erosion control, soil fertility, retention of excess precipitation by vegetation cover, retention by wetlands, and nutrient retention. The results demonstrated that the CCBS possesses significant potential for soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, exhibiting an average content of 18.9 Mg C ha−1, with grasslands and marshland covers recording the highest values. Regarding biomass carbon storage (BCS), average values reached 12.85 Mg C ha−1. These findings confirm the high capacity of wetlands to store carbon, thereby contributing significantly to climate regulation. Furthermore, the analysis of the soil fertility ecosystem function showed high productivity levels, with soil profiles exceeding 70% of the maximum potential value. Conversely, although the biophysical analysis revealed a moderate water regulation capacity by retaining approximately 15.4% of the annual precipitation, which corresponds to 170,067,986 m3, this function plays a fundamental role in minimizing surface runoff and mitigating flood risks across the territory.