Enhancing Carbon Sequestration through Afforestation: Evaluating the Impact of Land Use and Cover Changes on Carbon Storage Dynamics

Carbon sequestration is crucial for achieving net zero emissions and plays a vital role in mitigating climate change. However, changes in forest cover are having a significant impact on the amount of carbon stored in terrestrial ecosystems as forests play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by effectively storing and sequestering carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere. Assessing the impact of changes in land use and land cover (LULC) on the ability of forest ecosystems to store carbon (CS) is challenging. This study employs remote sensing techniques to examine the changes in spatiotemporal patterns of CS in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), resulting from LULC alterations between 2002 and 2022. Using the Google Earth Engine (GEE), we identified patterns of LULC change for three distinct years; and The Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model was employed to assess the evolving CS patterns. The study evaluates the effectiveness of the Billion Tree Tsunami (BTTP) afforestation initiative, revealing a substantial 63% increase in forest area, indicating enhanced carbon sequestration. The carbon storage has increased from 6824 Mg/m² to 7435 Mg/m², representing a 9% overall increase. This can be attributed to the improved vegetation and forest cover. This research provides insights into the geographical distribution and magnitude of forestation’s impact on carbon sequestration over the past two decades. Based on the findings, this study highlights the importance of implementing initiatives like BTTP and adopting policies and management strategies that promote sustainable urbanization without jeopardizing carbon reservoirs in the country.