The relationship between changes in land use and soil carbon and nitrogen was assessed in Alcalá (colombian coffee growing region), between 900 and 1600 m.Soils are Argiudolls and Melanudands and sampling units were defined according to the altitudinal gradient.Carbon and nitrogen content, C:N ratio, bulk density and 13C and 15 N abundances were measured.Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found due to altitude effect, differentiating the high zone by high C (37.06 -42.88 t ha -1 ), N (3.12-3.86t ha -1 ) and C: N (11.17-11.97),low bulk density (0.56-0.65 g cm -3 ) and 15 N abundance (4.59-5.15‰).Fallow and monocultures stored more carbon in deeper layers of the soil, while most preserved sites showed low C, N contents.The 13 C in land uses ranged between -25.18‰ and -21.17 ‰, indicating that carbon was fixed mainly by C 3 plants.It was concluded that land use changes affect C stocks, due to practices like chemical fertilization; and Alcalá soils have high potential for ecosystem services related with edaphic carbon capture.