Assessing the Impacts of Urbanization on Land Use Change and Carbon Dynamics in English Bazar Municipality Using Remote Sensing and CCDM Modeling

Land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics play a crucial role in carbon storageCarbon storage and emission patterns, impacting regional carbon balance and climate change mitigationClimate change mitigation efforts. This study aimed to investigate the LULC dynamics and its influence on carbon storageCarbon storage and emissions in English Bazar Municipality from 2001 to 2021. To achieve these objectives, a combination of remote sensingRemote sensing and modeling techniques was employed. LULC mapping was performed using the random forestRandom forest (RF) algorithm to categorize the study area into different land cover types for the years 2001, 2011, and 2021. Carbon storageCarbon storage was estimated using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model, providing Mega-grams of Carbon per hectare (Mg C/ha) for each LULC class. Carbon emissionCarbon emissions estimation was based on the High Absorption, Low Absorption, Balanced, Low Emission, and High Emission categories, reflecting the carbon absorption and emission capacities of each land cover type. The coupled coordination dynamic model (CCDM) further indicated the complexity of carbon dynamics, emphasizing the need for sustainable land use planning and climate change mitigationClimate change mitigation strategies. For LULC mapping, the RF model was applied to satellite imagery of three different years (2001, 2011, and 2021). The analysis revealed a decline in vegetation cover and an expansion of built-up areas and agricultural lands over time. The InVEST model was utilized to quantify carbon storageCarbon storage, showing a decrease in total carbon storageCarbon storage from 37,916.44 Mg C/ha in 2001 to 30,358.30 Mg C/ha in 2021. Carbon emissionsCarbon emissions were estimated based on High Absorption, Low Absorption, Balanced, Low Emission, and High Emission categories. The municipality shifted from being a net carbon sink in 2001 to a net carbon emitter in 2011 and 2021, attributed to urbanizationUrbanization and land use changesLand use change. The results of CCDM highlight the significance of conserving vegetation, promoting green spaces, and adopting climate-friendly urban development practices to enhance carbon storageCarbon storage and reduce emissions. Therefore, this study provides a comprehensive assessment of LULC dynamics and carbon storageCarbon storage and emissions in English Bazar Municipality. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and conservationists to develop targeted strategies for sustainable land use planning and carbon management. Further research is needed to explore long-term impacts, integrate socio-economic factors, and implement nature-based solutionsNature-Based Solutions (NBS) for effective climate change mitigationClimate change mitigation and environmental conservation.