Estimating Carbon Sequestration Potential in Vegetation by Distance-Constrained Zonal Analysis

Abstract

This letter proposes a distance-constrained (DC) zonal analysis approach to quantify how much more carbon could be further sequestrated by vegetation in mainland China based on multiple data sources. Our approach first segments the area into homogeneous landform–vegetation–soil (LVS) zones. Good land management practice (GLMP) corresponding to high sequestrated carbon (target carbon level) is identified at the locations in the same LVS zone. The target carbon level is set as the 90th percentile of the historically sequestrated carbon using the proxy of net primary productivity (NPP) at the locations within the LVS zone. When GLMP is realized over the entire LVS zone, more carbon could be sequestrated. Our results show that on average about 1/4 of more carbon could be added to the existing amount given the selected “good” land management practices are adopted by neighboring locations where lower carbon sequestration levels exist. The carbon sequestration potential for different land cover types differs significantly.