ASSESSMENT OF CARBON SEQUESTRATION POTENTIAL IN FOREST ECOSYSTEMS: A REMOTE SENSING AND ECOLOGICAL APPROACH IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Forests play a critical role in mitigating climate change through the sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂). In Pakistan, where deforestation and land degradation threaten ecological stability, assessing the carbon sequestration potential (CSP) of forest ecosystems is imperative. This study evaluates the CSP of major forest types in Pakistan—coniferous, mangrove, and subtropical scrub—using field biomass data and remote sensing-based estimations. Employing NDVI, land cover classification, and allometric models, spatial and temporal trends of biomass carbon storage are mapped from 2000 to 2023. The results reveal significant carbon storage disparities across forest types, with coniferous forests in northern Pakistan showing the highest CSP. The findings highlight the role of forest conservation, afforestation, and sustainable land management in enhancing national carbon sinks and supporting climate commitments.