The transfer of stable carbon from vegetation to the soil is an important process for reducing elevated concentrations of atmospheric CO2. The objective of the present study was to calculate the mass of new soil organic carbonic (NSOC) incorporated as a result of the establishment of reforestation with Pinus michoacana. Plots sown with corn were studied, in which a portion of the area was reforested with pine. The amount of NSOC was calculated from the differences in composition of isotopes (δ13C) from the soil and plant tissue, in a chronosequence, with the simple mixture model. Results indicated statistical differences (p≤0.001) in δ13C between the group of corn plots and the reforestations. The amount of NSOC was 62 and 18%, in the depths of 0-5 and 5-10 cm in reforestations of 20 years. The fit of the data by apparent density and the use of a quadratic model indicated that the average mass of NSOC incorporation is 11.2 and 2.30 Mg ha−1 at 20 years, and the accumulation rates are 0.561 and 0.11 Mg ha−1 year−1 at the same depths. No NSOC from pine was found at depths of over 10 cm, which suggests a higher carbon dynamic in the superficial soil.

Holl and Zahawi (2018) agree on a number of approaches that we describe in a local case study of tropical montane cloud forest restoration in Mexico. However, they contend our argument that most applied nucleation projects have taken place in tropical lowlands as a mistake. They also provide data on the per‐hectare cost of restoration projects in Costa Rica and compare it to a higher cost figure of plantation‐style reforestation, a view contrary to ours. Last, Holl and Zahawi recognize that applied nucleation requires specialized personnel, but imply that the amount of training needed for this endeavor is not very different than what is required to implement other forest recovery projects. In this counter‐response, we provide some refinements to our original opinion and offer further information in support to our perspective.