<![CDATA[To address climate change, a crucial environmental challenge, strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are essential. This study examines the relationship between tree species diversity, aboveground biomass (AGB), and carbon storage across tropical forests. The research was carried out in the Jama-Coaque Ecological Reserve and the Bosque Seco Lalo Loor Ecological Reserve in northwestern Ecuador, using 16 sample plots across five forest types: Mature Moist Forest (MMF), Cloud Forest (CLF), Early Succession Forest (ESF), Tropical Dry Forest (TDF), and Mature Semi-Deciduous Forest (MSF). To obtain indices of diversity and evenness, individual species were measured within plots, along with assessments of species abundance and richness. Biomass estimation was performed using allometric equations, while Principal Component Analysis (PCA) explored the relationships among diversity, structure, and carbon storage. Forests with higher diversity, such as MMF (Hʹ = 3.245), exhibited greater carbon storage in AGB (119.87 MgC ha-1). The global ranking for C storage capability among tropical forests was MMF > MSF > CLF > TDF > ESF. Species diversity influenced forest stand characteristics, increasing carbon storage potential in AGB. These findings highlight the impor-tance of diverse forests in conservation and policy, given their enhanced carbon sequestration potential for mitigating climate change.]]>
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