## 3 Results
### Evaluation of the Variability of the Ecosystem Valuation  
The calculation of the ecosystem valuation was segmented according to three altitude ranges, which were 2500 to 3000, 3001 to 3500 and 3501 to 4000 masl. The economic indices that were related to carbon concentrations were determined from the main productive trajectories, which are associated with the most characteristic crops of the Andean zones and pastures in terms of dairy production in the area. Table 9 shows the changes in ecosystem valuation during the study period in terms of tons of carbon stored in the soil, tons of carbon dioxide emitted and economic values. Table 10 and Figures 6 and 7 show the general changes in ecosystem valuation. The EV decreases as a function of the loss of organic carbon in soil, loss of cover productivity and increase in investment costs. Ecosystem valuation (EV) synergies are closely linked to changes in land cover, because these changes cause direct effects on the environmental services of natural resources. Ecosystem valuation was calculated for the following periods: 2000-2010; 2010-2020. These periods were chosen because they represent the time when the greatest agricultural expansion occurred in the Andean zone. The results show that the degradation of ecosystem valuation occurred in an ascending manner according to altitudinal ranges. The lowest zones were the most affected, perhaps because these places are the ones that are most in contact with the population; this dynamic was maintained throughout the study period. In general, the decrease in ecosystem valuation occurred as follows: In 2000, the EV as a function of avoided carbon dioxide content was USD 8.00 \(\times\) 10\({}^{6}\). In 2010, it was USD 6.00 \(\times\) 10\({}^{6}\), and, in 2020, it was USD 5.00 \(\times\) 10\({}^{6}\). Changes in ecosystem valuation in the different altitudinal levels occurred progressively. In 2000, at an altitude between 2500 and 3000 m above sea level, the carbon content was 150 tons per hectare, the carbon dioxide concentration was 551 tons per hectare and its EV in relation to avoided carbon dioxide content was USD 140 per hectare. At an altitude between 3001 and 3500 m above sea level, the carbon storage was 220 tons per hectare, the number of tons of carbon dioxide avoided was 807 and the EV was USD 96 per hectare in relation to carbon dioxide emissions avoided. At an altitude between 3501 and 4000\(>\) masl, the tons of carbon per hectare was 324 and the tons of carbon dioxide was 1189; the ecosystem value at this altitude was USD 65 per hectare. Figure 6: Ecosystem valuation transitions in 2000, 2010 and 2020. Figure 7: Spatial changes in ecosystem valuation in (**a**) 2000, (**b**) 2010 and (**c**) 2020. In 2010, at an altitude between 2500 and 3000 m above sea level, the concentration of carbon and carbon dioxide was 130 and 477 tons, respectively; the ecosystem valuation decreased to USD 110 per hectare in terms of carbon dioxide mitigated. At an altitude between 3001 and 3500 m above sea level, there was carbon storage of 200 tons, with 734 tons of carbon dioxide, and the ecosystem valuation was valued at USD 71. At an altitude between 3501 and 4000 m above sea level, the ecosystem valuation was USD 45 with a concentration of 318 tons of carbon and 1167 tons of carbon dioxide avoided. The trend was maintained in 2020, where the ecosystem valuation was USD 98, 58 and 33 based on carbon dioxide avoided, with a carbon concentration of 100, 170 and 300 tons and a concentration of buffered carbon dioxide of 367, 624 and 1101 tons in the altitudinal ranges of 2500-3000, 3001-3500 and 3501-4000\(>\) masl, respectively. Although the trend of loss of ecosystem valuation is constant, there are areas that maintain the natural value of the resources, as the study area is located next to protected areas, which is why the owners of these areas receive economic incentives to use the soils with a sustainable approach.