Carbon Stocks Research Articles

Effects of close-to-nature forest management on carbon stocks in Pinus tabulaeformis plantations in northern China

Effects of close-to-nature forest management on carbon stocks in Pinus tabulaeformis plantations in northern China

American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) as wetland ecosystem carbon stock regulators

Blue carbon refers to organic carbon sequestered by oceanic and coastal ecosystems. This stock has gained global attention as a high organic carbon repository relative to other ecosystems. Within blue carbon ecosystems, tidally influenced wetlands alone store a disproportionately higher amount of organic carbon than other blue carbon systems. North America harbors 42% of tidally influenced global wetland area, which has been identified as a critical carbon stock in the context of climate change mitigation. However, quantified associations between vertebrate biota and carbon sequestration within ecosystems are in their infancy and have been incidental, given that microbial trophic levels are thought to drive nutrient dynamics. Here, we assess the relationship between American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) demography and tidally influenced wetland soil carbon stock among habitats at continental, biogeographically-relevant, and local scales. We used soil core profile data from the Smithsonian’s Coastal Carbon Network and filtered for continuous core profiles in tidally influenced wetland areas along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts of the United States. Results indicate that American alligator presence is positively correlated with soil carbon stock across habitats within their native distribution. Further, American alligator demographic variables are positively correlated with soil carbon stock at local scales. These conclusions are concordant with previous findings that apex predators, through trophic cascade theory, play a key role in regulating soil carbon stock and that alligators are functional apex predators in carbon dynamics and a key commercialized natural resource.

Sparse subalpine forest recovery pathways, plant communities, and carbon stocks 34 years after stand‐replacing fire

AbstractChanging global climate and wildfire regimes are threatening forest resilience (i.e., the ability to recover from disturbance). Yet distinguishing areas of “no” versus “slow” postfire forest recovery is challenging, and consequences of sparse tree regeneration for plant communities and carbon dynamics are uncertain. We studied previously forested areas where tree regeneration remained sparse 34 years after the large, stand‐replacing 1988 Yellowstone fires (Wyoming, USA) to ask the following questions: (1) What are the recovery pathways in areas of sparse and reduced forest recovery and how are they distributed across the landscape? (2) What explains variation in postfire tree regeneration density (total and by species) among sparse recovery pathways? (3) What are the implications of sparse recovery for understory plant communities? (4) How diminished are aboveground carbon stocks in areas of sparse postfire forest recovery? Tree densities and species‐specific age distributions, understory plant communities, and carbon stocks were sampled in 55 plots during summer 2022. We detected three qualitatively distinct sparse recovery pathways (persistent sparse or non‐forest, continuous tree infilling, and recent seedling and sapling establishment). Nearly half of the plots appeared “locked in” as persistently sparse or non‐forest, while the remaining may be on a slow path to forest recovery. Plots with nearby upwind seed sources as well as in situ seed pressure from young postfire trees appear likely to recover to forest. Where trees were sparse or absent, plant communities resembled those found in meadows, capturing compositional changes expected to become more common with continued forest loss. However, forest‐affinity species persisted in mesic locations, indicating mismatches between some plant communities and future forest change. Aboveground carbon stocks were low owing to minimal tree reestablishment. Almost all (96%) carbon was stored in coarse wood, a sharp departure from C storage patterns where forests are recovering. If not offset by future tree regeneration, decomposition of dead biomass will protract postfire aboveground carbon stock recovery. As global disturbance regimes and climate continue to change, determining the drivers of ecosystem reorganization and understanding how such changes will cascade to influence ecosystem structure and function will be increasingly important.

Land Use Effects on Organic Carbon in Andean Volcanic Ash Soils

ABSTRACTBackgroundBoth organic carbon (OC) stocks and labile OC (LOC) fractions are important indicators of soil health and are sensitive to land use change.AimsTo study the effects of land use change on these indicators in montane volcanic ash soils, a soil transect was surveyed in northern Ecuador.MethodsSamples were collected from 0–30, 30–60, and 60–90 cm soil depth at two agricultural sites with different time of cultivation and at three natural vegetation sites (tropical alpine grassland, páramo). LOC was determined as cold and hot water extractable OC (CWEOC and HWEOC). Molar absorptivity at 254 nm was determined in the extracts as a qualitative measure.ResultsTotal OC stocks were high at the páramo sites (51.3–60.2 kg C m−3) and the younger agricultural site (50.8 kg C m−3; 20 years of cultivation), but significantly lower (30.1 kg C m−3) at the older agricultural site (at least 100 years of cultivation); CWEOC (0.1%–0.7%) and HWEOC (0.6%–4.1%) represented only a small part of the OC. Both LOC pools decreased with increasing cultivation time, with CWEOC reflecting short‐term and HWEOC long‐term effects. In contrast, the molar absorptivity was highest at the oldest site (198–307 L mol−1 cm−1 vs. 36–64 L mol−1 cm−1 at the other sites), indicating that easily degradable labile C was depleted leaving compounds with higher aromaticity.ConclusionsThe conversion of páramo into agricultural land negatively affects OC stocks and soil health, as indicated by reduced OC storage capacities and lower LOC contents.

Effects of Stand Age and Environmental Factors on Soil Phytolith-Occluded Organic Carbon Accumulation of Cunninghamia Lanceolata Forests in Southwest Subtropics of China

The area of Cunninghamia lanceolata forests in China is expansive, the soil PhytOC(phytolith-occluded organic carbon) stock of Cunninghamia lanceolata forests is a vital carbon reservoir on the global scale. Soil from the Cunninghamia lanceolata forests was collected, and the soil physicochemical indexes and phytoliths and PhytOC content were measured to explore the accumulation characteristics of PhytOC in the 0–10, 10−20, and 20−30 cm soil layers at different stand ages. The results are as follows: (1) soil phytolith content (11.98–32.60 g·kg−1), PhytOC content (0.48−1.10 g·kg−1), PhytOC/TSOC (1.90%−6.93%), soil PhytOC stock (0.446−1.491 t·hm−2), and mature forest > middle−aged forest > Huitou−sha forest > young forest. The soil PhytOC accumulation was significantly affected by stand age. Huitou−sha is not an advantageous afforestation way of Cunninghamia lanceolata. (2) the soil physicochemical properties and stand conditions had significant effects on soil PhytOC accumulation. High−silicon, carbon-rich, acidic soil environment and appropriate thinning are conducive to phytolith formation and PhytOC sequestration. (3) the accumulation potential of soil PhytOC in the Cunninghamia lanceolata forest is relatively large, and its importance as a forest carbon sink cannot be ignored. Soil PhytOC stock in Cunninghamia lanceolata forests of different stand ages will lay a foundation for accurate estimation of forest carbon sink.

Uncertainty Analysis of Remote Sensing Estimation of Chinese Fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) Aboveground Biomass in Southern China

Forest aboveground biomass (AGB) is not only the basis for forest carbon stock research, but also an important parameter for assessing the forest carbon cycle and ecological functions of forests. However, there are various uncertainties in the estimation process, limiting the accuracy of AGB estimation. Therefore, we extracted the spectral features, vegetation indices and texture factors from remote sensing images based on the field data and Landsat 8 OLI remote sensing images in Southern China to quantify the uncertainties. Then, we established three AGB estimation models, including K Nearest Neighbor Regression (KNN), Gradient Boosted Regression Tree (GBRT) and Random Forest (RF). Uncertainties at the plot scale and models were measured by using error equations to analyze the influences of uncertainties at different scales on AGB estimation. Results were as follows: (1) The R2 of the per-tree biomass model for Cunninghamia lanceolata was 0.970, while the uncertainty of the residual and parameters for per-tree biomass model was 4.62% and 4.81%, respectively; and the uncertainty transferred to the plot scale was 3.23%. (2) The estimation methods had the most significant effects on the remote sensing models. RF was more accurate than other two methods, and had the highest accuracy (R2 = 0.867, RMSE = 19.325 t/ha) and lowest uncertainty (5.93%), which outperformed both the KNN and GBRT models (KNN: R2 = 0.368, RMSE = 42.314 t/ha, uncertainty = 14.88%; GBRT: R2 = 0.636, RMSE = 32.056 t/ha, uncertainty = 6.3%). Compared to KNN and GBRT, the R2 of RF was enhanced by 0.499 and 0.231, while the uncertainty was decreased by 8.95% and 0.37%, respectively. The uncertainty associated with the scale of remote sensing models remains the primary source of uncertainty when compared to the plot scale. On the remote sensing scale, RF is the model with the best estimation effect. This study examines the impact of both plot-scale and remote sensing model-scale methodologies on the estimation of AGB for Cunninghamia lanceolata. The findings aim to offer valuable insights and considerations for enhancing the accuracy of AGB estimations.

How Does the Interplay Between Banking Performance, Digitalization, and Renewable Energy Consumption Shape Sustainable Development in European Union Countries?

In the context of current global challenges, the integration of digitalization, financial performance, and renewable energy is pivotal in fostering sustainable and resilient economic development. The aim of this paper is to explore the interplay between banking performance, digitalization, and renewable energy consumption in the context of the European Union (EU), with a focus on sustainable economic development. This study examines the extent to which the digitalization and efficiency of the banking sector influence the uptake of renewable energy considering the EU’s environmental and economic priorities. The methodology used involves an econometric analysis based on statistical data from EU countries, using Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) to assess causal relationships between variables, complemented by Vector Autoregression (VAR) models and Granger causality tests to further investigate the dynamic interactions among the variables. The data were analyzed to examine the correlation between banking performance, digitalization, and renewable energy consumption levels. The results reveal a positive correlation between greater digitalization in the banking sector, stronger financial performance, and higher investments in renewable energy sources. These factors also support the transition to a green economy, but the effect varies between EU countries depending on national policies and existing digital infrastructure. Recommendations for policymakers include stimulating digitalization in the financial sector, creating a regulatory framework to encourage green energy investments, and strengthening collaboration between financial institutions and the energy sector to facilitate the transition to renewables. This paper also suggests a fiscal policy conducive to technological innovation and digitalization to accelerate the uptake of renewable energy.

The emerging green economy: Exploring the influence of ISO 14001 on South African manufacturing sector

ABSTRACT Although ISO 14001 offers benefits such as improved environmental performance and a business advantage, to date, the financial benefits associated with ISO 14001 in South Africa have not been quantified. Thus, this study sought to assess the financial benefits accruing to selected manufacturing enterprises, accredited as ISO 14001 compliant, located in three South African provinces. Data was collected through an e-survey and interviews with key decision-makers in the selected organisations. The results show that the benefits of ISO14001 certification include improved environmental awareness among employees; enhanced responsibility for employees’ environmental concerns, better data management; reduced operational and production costs; and new income streams linked to re-use and recycling initiatives. But savings are seemingly sector-specific, with auto manufacturers making the greatest return on investment. Overall, the long-term financial benefits justify the relatively high cost; time-intensive obligations and extensive human resource requirements of ISO14001 certification for most, but not all, the companies under study.

Rethinking Ecosocialist Inquiry: Integrating the Theory of Metabolic Rift with Ecological Economics

ABSTRACT This paper explores the Theory of Metabolic Rift (TMR), which addresses the disconnect between human societies and their natural environments. We identify three distinct forms of TMR: the simple, the general, and the extended form. This analysis provides a comprehensive assessment of TMR's theoretical underpinnings and its applicability to current ecological and economic challenges. Finally, examining the dialectical relationship between social structures and ecological systems, the study responds to the need for advancing ecosocialist research, which should emphasise concrete political responses to contemporary environmental challenges. Drawing from Ecological Economics, we propose a novel methodology incorporating Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and Substance Flow Analysis (SFA) to illuminate the dynamics of the metabolic rift. This integration fosters interdisciplinary analytical tools for ecosocialist research offering pathways for systemic change towards ecological sustainability and social justice.

Quantifying the Effects of Carbon Growth Grade and Structural Diversity on Carbon Sinks of Natural Coniferous–Broadleaved Mixed Forests Across the Jilin Province of China

Natural mixed forests’ carbon sequestration capacity is crucial for mitigating climate change and maintaining ecological balance. However, most of the current studies only consider the role of forest age, ignoring the influence of carbon growth grade and stand structural diversity, which leads to an increase in uncertainty in large-scale forest carbon sink assessment. The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of carbon growth grade and stand structure diversity on the carbon sink of natural mixed forests and to establish a more accurate stand carbon growth model. Based on sample data from the National Forest Inventory (NFI) of China, the stand carbon growth model was established based on Gompertz and Logistic theoretical growth models, and the forest carbon sink at the regional scale was predicted. It was found that the stand carbon growth model considering only the stand age as a single variable often had poor results, with R2 less than 0.36, while R2 values of the optimal model introducing carbon growth grade and stand structural diversity were 0.87 and 0.48, respectively, which significantly improved the prediction accuracy of the model, and both had significant effects on stand carbon stocks. By predicting the future forest carbon sink, it was found that the forest carbon sink of the natural coniferous–broadleaved mixed forests in Jilin Province would reach 791 (781–801) t c/a and 843 (833–852) t c/a in 2030 and 2060, respectively, which were 17% lower and 51% higher than that of the forest carbon sink estimated by considering only the age. Moreover, the model considering structural diversity predicted a more positive carbon sink trend, indicating that forest carbon stocks could be more effectively maintained and carbon sinks increased by increasing the complexity of stand diameter at breast height structure, which has important guiding significance for future forest carbon sink management. This study provides scientific support for achieving the goal of “carbon neutrality” proposed by China.

Effects of land use/land cover change on soil physicochemical properties and soil carbon stock in Kochore district, southern Ethiopia

Land use changes from year to year due to natural and human-made factors are a serious cause of the degradation of soil properties. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of land use land cover changes on selected soil physicochemical properties and soil organic carbon stocks in Kochore district, Southern Ethiopia. Satellite images (2000, 2010, and 2020) were used as sources of information for land use and land cover analysis using ArcGIS 10.3 and ERDAS Imagine 2014 software. Three land use types (cultivated, agroforestry, and grazing land) were identified through field surveys and satellite image analysis. Soil samples were collected at different depths (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm), and selected soil properties were analyzed. The results indicate that geospatial data of the land cover of agroforestry continuously increased and a decrease in grazing and cultivated in the given periods of 2000, 2010, and 2020, and soil properties revealed such as sand, bulk density, organic carbon, total nitrogen, pH, cation exchange capacity, and exchangeable bases were significantly (P < 0.001) affected by land use and soil depth. The highest content of OC (2.37), Av.P. (3.36), and TN (0.13) was observed on agroforestry land, and the lowest 1.43 and 0.08 was OC and TN respectively. The highest value of soil organic carbon stock (60.2 mg ha−1) was observed in AFL. The study suggests the deterioration of soil properties under cultivated and grazing land, emphasizing the importance of sustainable integrated soil fertility management to optimize and maintain favorable soil physicochemical properties.

Pluralism, Ecology and Planning

In Economic Democratic Planning Robin Hahnel rearticulates and defends the model of participatory planning he developed with Michael Albert. This paper develops three lines of criticism of the model. It argues that the model’s principle of distribution of income among workers according to a metric of effort would involve pervasive surveillance of persons and potential humiliation. The use of a price metric of opportunity costs and cost-benefit analysis in the allocation of resources fails to address the implications of value-pluralism and incommensurability for their allocation. In response to Hahnel’s criticism of those who argue that environmental constraints entail limits to economic growth, it argues that we need to take those constraints more seriously than he does. The paper focuses on the second and third area of disagreement by placing those differences within the wider history of the socialist calculation debates and ecological economics.

Decomposing the Tea Bag Index and finding slower organic matter loss rates at higher elevations and deeper soil horizons in a minerogenic salt marsh

Abstract. Environmental gradients can affect organic matter decay within and across wetlands and contribute to spatial heterogeneity in soil carbon stocks. We tested the sensitivity of decay rates to tidal flooding and soil depth in a minerogenic salt marsh using the Tea Bag Index (TBI). Tea bags were buried at 10 and 50 cm depths across an elevation gradient in a subtropical Spartina alterniflora marsh in Georgia (USA). Plant and animal communities and soil properties were characterized once, while replicate tea bags and porewaters were collected several times over 1 year. TBI decay rates were faster than prior litterbag studies in the same marsh, largely due to rapid green tea loss. Rooibos tea decay rates were more comparable to natural marsh litter, potentially suggesting that is more useful as a standardized organic matter proxy than green tea. Decay was slowest at higher marsh elevations and not consistently related to other biotic (e.g., plants, crab burrows) or abiotic factors (e.g., porewater chemistry), indicating that local hydrology strongly affected organic matter loss rates. TBI rates were 32 %–118 % faster in the 10 cm horizon than at 50 cm. Rates were fastest in the first 3 months and slowed 54 %–60 % at both depths between 3 and 6 months. Rates slowed further between 6 and 12 months, but this was more muted at 10 cm (17 %) compared to 50 cm (50 %). Slower rates at depth and with time were unlikely due to the TBI stabilization factor, which was similar across depths and decreased from 6 to 12 months. Slower decay at 50 cm demonstrates that rates were constrained by environmental conditions in the deeper horizon rather than the composition of this highly standardized litter. Overall, these patterns suggest that hydrological setting, which affects oxidant introduction and reactant removal and is often overlooked in marsh decomposition studies, may be a particularly important control on organic matter loss in the short term (3–12 months).

Exploring Economic Expansion of Green Hydrogen Production in South Africa

Hydrogen is a crucial energy carrier for the Clean Energy Sustainable Development Goals and the just transition to low/zero-carbon energy. As a top CO2-emitting country, hydrogen (especially green hydrogen) production in South Africa has gained momentum due to the availability of resources, such as solar energy, land, wind energy, platinum group metals (as catalysts for electrolysers), and water. However, the demand for green hydrogen in South Africa is insignificant, which implies that the majority of the production must be exported. Despite the positive developments, there are unclear matters, such as dependence on the national electricity grid for green hydrogen production and the cost of transporting it to Asian and European markets. Hence, this study aims to explore opportunities for economic expansion for sustainable production, transportation, storage, and utilisation of green hydrogen produced in South Africa. This paper uses a thematic literature review methodology. The key findings are that the available renewable energy sources, incentivizing the green economy, carbon taxation, and increasing the demand for green hydrogen in South Africa and Africa could decrease the cost of hydrogen from 3.54 to 1.40 €/kgH2 and thus stimulate its production, usage, and export. The appeal of green hydrogen lies in diversifying products to green hydrogen as an energy carrier, clean electricity, synthetic fuels, green ammonia and methanol, green fertilizers, and green steel production with the principal purpose of significant energy decarbonisation and economic and foreign earnings. These findings are expected to drive the African hydrogen revolution in agreement with the AU 2063 agenda.

Estimation of the total carbon sequestration potential of coconut-gliricidia mixed cropping systems in Sri Lanka

Offsetting carbon footprints by sequestering carbon through plant biomasses has become a key concern under modern thinking on climate change mitigation. This study aimed to estimate the carbon sequestration capacities of coconut-based gliricidia mixed cropping systems in Sri Lanka and, importantly, to develop an allometric model for non-destructive estimation of carbon. Five major coconut age groups and four major gliricidia age groups were selected to estimate the total carbon stock. The age groups of coconut considered were 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 years, with corresponding carbon stocks of 22.59, 34.99, 53.13, 63.40, and 66.03 Mg[C]ha-1, respectively. In gliricidia stands, carbon stocks were 25.53, 46.16, 83.83, and 106.09 Mg[C]ha-1, respectively, for age groups of 5, 10, 15, and 20 years. It is recommended that gliricidia be introduced as an intercrop in coconut plantations 20 years after the establishment of the latter. For this study, a 30-year-old coconut plantation with a 10-year-old gliricidia intercrop, along with its associated ground cover vegetation and soil carbon stock, were considered the benchmark agroforestry system. In the 30-year-old coconut monocropping system, the total carbon stock was 67.76 Mg[C]ha-1, which consisted of uniform coconut, 1.24 Mg[C]ha-1 from ground cover vegetation and 13.39 Mg[C]ha-1 from the soil carbon stock at a depth of 30 cm. The overall carbon sequestration rate for this monocropping system was 2.25 Mg[C]ha-1yr-1 and abated CO2 in 8.23 Mg[CO2]ha-1yr-1. In the 30-year-old coconut and 10-year-old gliricidia mixed cropping system, the total carbon stock was 114.83 Mg[C]ha-1, which consisted of uniform coconut and Gliricidia, 1.05 Mg[C]ha-1 from ground cover plants, and 14.49 Mg[C]ha-1 from soil carbon stock at a depth of 30 cm. Compared to the coconut monocropping system, the coconut-gliricidia mixed cropping system had a higher carbon sequestration rate of 6.84 Mg[C]ha-1yr-1 and abated CO2 in 25.03 Mg[CO2]ha-1yr-1, which are around three times higher than the monoculture system.

Environmental Economics and Ecological Economics: Historical Evolution and the Current Status

The nomenclatures ‘environmental economics’ and ‘ecological economics’ are frequently utilised interchangeably in academic and policy spheres. While purportedly complementary in certain aspects, these disciplines diverge significantly in various fundamental principles. Environmental economics boasts a lengthy lineage, with its conceptual foundations traceable to pre-classical economic thought. On the other hand, ecological economics emerged more recently, particularly in the post-1980s, articulating ecological and energy-related concepts beyond the purview of neoclassical-based environmental economics. Although the distinctions between these two fields of inquiry in environment–human interactions have been well established in global academia, such delineations remain inadequately articulated within the Indian context. Consequently, the development of environmental curricula in economics departments predominantly revolves around environmental economics, often lacking critical inputs from ecological economics. In some instances, curricula incorporate an amalgamation of theories, concepts, principles and methodologies from both fields, leading to conceptual ambiguity. Furthermore, the lack of awareness among educators and students regarding these distinctions results in the treatment of both fields as synonymous, thereby limiting exposure to critical aspects of the alternative discipline. This article presents a systematic review of the historical evolution of neoclassical-based environmental economics and argues that ecological economics emerged as a ‘reaction’ to reorient the former with relevant inputs from domains such as political ecology and the laws of thermodynamics. The analysis aims to clarify the demarcations between these two significant branches of economic thought in the context of environmental studies.

Plant diversity and microbial interaction on soil carbon stock in the tropical homegardens: a nature-based solution to climate change

Plant diversity and microbial interaction on soil carbon stock in the tropical homegardens: a nature-based solution to climate change

Cultivating Sustainable Health in the Rural Mississippi: A Need Study for Green Economic Developmental Initiatives through the SNAP-Ed program

This study explores the potential role of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) in fostering a green economy in rural Mississippi, specifically in Adams, Claiborne, and Jefferson counties. Using a mixed-methods approach, we conducted a comprehensive needs assessment to identify the nutritional and physical activity challenges faced by elementary school-aged children in these communities. Our findings highlight critical issues, including high obesity rates, poor dietary patterns, and limited access to fresh, healthy foods. These challenges not only affect individual health but also have broader implications for community well-being and economic sustainability. We argue that SNAP-Ed interventions are uniquely positioned to address these issues while simultaneously advancing environmentally sustainable food systems. By encouraging healthy eating behaviors such as increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, SNAP-Ed can support local agricultural economies, minimize food waste, and reduce the carbon footprint associated with food production and distribution. Our recommendations emphasize the integration of community-based food initiatives into SNAP-Ed programming. Initiatives such as school gardens, farmers’ markets, and community-supported agriculture can enhance food security, promote equitable access to nutritious foods, and empower residents to participate in sustainable farming practices. These efforts have the potential to transform rural Mississippi into a model of health-driven, community-centered, and environmentally conscious economic growth.

Estimating Vegetation Density Dynamics, Tree Diversity, and Carbon Stock in the Agroforestry System of the Community Forest in Bogor Regency, Indonesia

Mitigation actions to address climate change are essential to prevent future adverse impacts, with woody species in forests playing a pivotal role in carbon storage, as exemplified by the agroforestry systems commonly practiced in community forests of Bogor Regency, which integrate woody species and crops. This study aimed to analyze changes in vegetation density using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) approach, analyze stand structure and composition, and estimate above-ground carbon stocks in the agroforestry land of community forest in Tenjolaya Sub-District, Bogor Regency. The methods used were spatial analysis with NDVI, vegetation analysis, and carbon stock estimation using allometric and destructive methods. The plot size was 50 m × 50 m, totaling 21 plots. NDVI analysis resulted in low density (0.59–0.67), moderate density (0.67–0.78), and high density (0.78–0.85). This study found 178 plant species across 40 families, with Fabaceae and Myrtaceae being the most dominant. The carbon stock is 27.69 tons carbon/ha. Carbon stock is significantly influenced by tree density, number of species, and basal area values. A well-managed community forest has high ecological, economic, and social potential through the development of agroforestry, which can maintain biodiversity and environmental sustainability while storing carbon stocks. Keywords: above-ground carbon, agroforestry, community forest, normalized difference vegetation index, vegetation density

Spatial Model of Carbon Stocks in Special Purpose Forest Area (KHDTK) Mungku Baru, Central Kalimantan Province, Indonesia

This study aims to estimate vegetation biomass and spatial distribution of carbon stocks in Special Purpose Forest Area (KHDTK) Mungku Baru, Palangka Raya City, Central Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. KHDTK Mungku Baru is a former logging area from the 1970s, which has undergone secondary succession and is dominated by pole and sapling levels. The approach used in this study involves remote sensing technology and field inventory data, which allows carbon stock calculations to be carried out quickly and accurately over a very large area. A linear regression algorithm was used to obtain a spatial model of carbon stocks using NDVI obtained from Landsat as a predictor. The developed model shows positive correlation results with an R2 value of 0.70; an Adjusted R2 value of 0.69 with a p-level &lt; 0.05, and RMSE of 42 tons/ha. This carbon stock mapping results serve as a basis for formulating various management plans for KHDTK Mungku Baru regarding ecological, social, and economic aspects. Keywords: carbon stocks, normalized difference vegetation index, spatial model, special purpose forest area, vegetation biomass