Environmental Challenges最新文献

{"title":"Ecological impacts of recreational transformation and war on bird communities in the Siverskyi Donets river floodplain: diversity, synanthropization, and restoration strategies","authors":"Tatiana V. Shupova ,&nbsp;Roman I. Kratenko","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101144","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101144","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the diversity, structure, and ecological changes in bird communities along the Siverskyi Donets river and its surrounding recreational areas, focusing on the impacts of recreational transformation. It aims to assess how these changes affect bird community composition, α- and β-diversity, synanthropization levels, and ecological balance. Additionally, the study compares the effects of recreational and post-war habitat destruction on bird communities and suggests strategies for habitat restoration after the war.</div><div>We used Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to explore the relationship between bird community diversity and the level of recreational transformation along a biotope gradient: floodplain oak forest – tourist bases – park. The negative impact of recreational pressure increases along this gradient, with average bird density rising from 2.83±0.48 pairs/km² in the oak forest to 3.82±0.90 pairs/km² in the park. At the same time, species richness drops from 33 to 22, synanthropization values increase from 0.67 to 0.86, and α-diversity and community balance decrease. We predict that if habitats are not completely destroyed by war, bird communities will respond similarly to the combined pressures of habitat destruction and disturbance from military activities, as they do to recreational pressure. Following the war on Ukraine, we recommend establishing a continuous network of forest remnants, planting multi-species, multi-layered vegetation, creating artificial nests and shelters for birds, and preserving ruderal patches as breeding and feeding grounds. Collaboration among biological, social scientists, and conservation organizations is essential to restore Ukraine's ecosystems and biodiversity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101144"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143769153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the environmental impacts of hard coastal engineering structures on groundwater salinity and salinity intrusion: Insights from the Marawila Coastal Zone, Sri Lanka","authors":"Dinusha Wijerathne ,&nbsp;R.S.M. Samarasekara ,&nbsp;Niranji Satanarachchi ,&nbsp;Meththika Vithanage ,&nbsp;H.M.A. Lakmal","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101145","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101145","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coastal erosion and groundwater salinity intrusion pose significant threats to beaches and their socio-economic values. Hard coastal engineering structures are commonly implemented to mitigate erosion but can inadvertently exacerbate the groundwater salinization. This study investigates the severity and drivers of groundwater salinity intrusion, focusing on the impact of hard coastal engineering structures on groundwater salinity in the Marawila coastal area, Sri Lanka. Marawila coastal area has been managed using hard coastal engineering structures since 2010 and is currently experiencing groundwater salinity issues. Groundwater electric conductivity (EC) was measured in 100 shallow wells during monsoon and non-monsoon periods and spatially analyzed using ArcGIS. Twenty-three borehole tests were conducted perpendicular to coastal protection measures to assess the landward variation of groundwater EC. Additionally, sea level, tide level, rainfall, significant wave height and soil particle size distribution data were analyzed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to capture coastal users’ perceptions on salinity intrusion. The findings reveal that rainfall has a significant impact on groundwater salinity intrusion. The minimal rainfall, coupled with higher wave activity, significantly increased the groundwater EC. Hard coastal engineering structures were found to elevate groundwater salinity by enhancing wave setup, while sea level and tide levels have a minimal impact. Rising groundwater salinity has affected household water security, increasing dependence on purchased drinking water and leading to financial burdens. The findings highlight the need for integrated coastal management strategies that address salinity intrusion alongside erosion control. Beach nourishment emerges as a potentially sustainable alternative, provided its cost and durability are manageable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101145"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143759029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative analysis of the socioeconomic changes in biosphere reserves: demographics, employment, and industrial structures","authors":"Toshinori Tanaka ,&nbsp;Jihwan Kim ,&nbsp;Mizuki Okawa ,&nbsp;Kumar Bhatta ,&nbsp;Mieko Miyazawa ,&nbsp;Nao Takashina ,&nbsp;Buntarou Kusumoto ,&nbsp;Yoshiaki Kubo","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101142","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101142","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Achieving a \"society in harmony with nature\" is a critical challenge in the 21st century. UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BRs) aim for sustainable development through nature conservation and are considered prototypes of such harmonious regions. However, the socioeconomic impact of the BR designation has not been sufficiently studied. This study analyzes the changes in demographics, employment, and industrial structures in six Japanese BR municipalities using data from municipal statistics and national censuses for 2010, 2015, and 2020. Reference municipalities were selected for the comparative analysis based on certain criteria. The results indicate that all BR municipalities experienced population decreases ranging from −0.1 to −18.8 % after BR designation. Notably, five of these municipalities had slower depopulation rates than the reference municipalities. Conversely, five BR municipalities showed a relative decline in the number of employees compared to the references. The in-migration of retirees and families with children can be considered a possible reason for this paradox; however, the age-group analysis revealed that the influx of retirees and young families had no significant correlation between the BR and reference municipalities. Additionally, census data showed that tourism-dependent BR municipalities faced a decline in the tertiary sector due to the impact of COVID-19. The findings do not demonstrate a unified trend among Japanese BRs, suggesting that socioeconomic changes after BR designation cannot be generalized, largely because of the differing local contexts in Japan. We emphasize the need for similar studies worldwide.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101142"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143759031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Remote sensing analysis of urban heat island dynamics in Bahir Dar and Hawassa, Ethiopia: The role of vegetation, urbanization, and climate","authors":"Aramde Fetene","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101139","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101139","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rapid urbanization within most developing nations has resulted in the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Yet, there is a lack of substantial research on local environmental and climatic variables that define the UHI intensity. This study investigated the relationship between urbanization, vegetation dynamics, and UHI intensity in Bahir Dar and Hawassa, Ethiopia, from 2000 to 2022, using Landsat 7, Landsat 8, and climatic variables such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and rainfall. The analysis was computed with Python and ArcMap. Accordingly, the results demonstrated a slight reduction in Land Surface Temperature (LST) for both cities, with variation in Bahir Dar at (<em>R² = 0.50</em>) compared to Hawassa at (<em>R² = 0.07</em>), showing other factors controlling the temperature in Hawassa. Indeed, Bahir Dar in the Ethiopian Highlands exhibits higher temperatures than Hawassa in the Rift Valley. Changes in the Normalized Built-up Index (NDBI) have recorded weak negative trends, (<em>R² = 0.20)</em> for both cities, which means the expansion of the built-up areas is inconsistent. While the increase of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in Bahir Dar was significant (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01), that of Hawassa was not significant (<em>p</em> <em>=</em> <em>0.107</em>). UHII in Bahir Dar has significantly declined, with (<em>R² = 0.68; p</em> <em>&lt;</em> <em>0.01</em>) while in Hawassa UHII characterizes variations with a downward trend (<em>R² =0.42; p</em> <em>&lt;</em> <em>0.01</em>) including even negative values recording, indicating cooler urban than the surroundings. This calls for deep attention to local specificities for any climate adaptation strategy. Further studies should be conducted with multisource remote sensing, socioeconomic factors, and predictive modeling to strengthen evidence-based urban planning and decision-making.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101139"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143697885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Industrial heat island and carbon emissions: machine learning-based environmental impact assessment in Cilegon, Indonesia","authors":"Agus Suprijanto ,&nbsp;Yumin Tan ,&nbsp;Muhammad Kamran Lodhi ,&nbsp;Rodolfo Domingo Moreno Santillan ,&nbsp;Isiaka Lukman Alage ,&nbsp;Gonzalo Rodolfo Pena Zamalloa","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101141","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101141","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Industrialization has become a major environmental challenge. It intensifies urban heat island effects, degrades vegetation, and increases carbon emissions, particularly in rapidly developing regions. However, quantifying and mitigating these impacts remains a significant challenge, especially in cloud-prone areas where remote sensing data is often compromised. This study employs an advanced machine learning-based approach to assess the environmental impacts of industrial activities in Cilegon, Indonesia. Multi-source remote sensing datasets from 2014 to 2022 were analyzed. Integrating Landsat-8 for Land Surface Temperature (LST) and vegetation health (NDVI), GPM for precipitation, and ODIAC for carbon emissions. A hybrid filter approach enhanced data quality by reducing cloud-induced noise. An XGBoost model was developed to reconstruct LST, enabling a spatiotemporal assessment of industrial heat island (IHI) dynamics. The results reveal a staggering increase in carbon emissions, with Industrial Area 2 emitting 107 times more carbon than Industrial Area 1 due to coal-fired power plants. The industrial heat island effect extends to 1500 m, while carbon emissions significantly influence areas within 1000 m, exacerbating environmental stress. NDVI analysis indicates an 81.36 % decline in healthy vegetation in Industrial Area 2 between 2014 and 2019, emphasizing the severe ecological impact of industrialization. Seasonal trends show that La Niña-induced precipitation partially aids vegetation recovery, but its effects cannot counterbalance industrial degradation. Strong negative correlations were observed between NDVI and LST (-0.928) and NDVI and carbon emissions (-0.739), reinforcing the crucial role of vegetation in mitigating environmental damage. This study presents a data-driven framework to assess industrial environmental impacts using machine learning and enhanced satellite processing. The findings emphasize the urgent need for stricter emissions control, urban greening, and sustainable industrial planning to mitigate environmental degradation. Given the global rise in industrial emissions and urban heat stress, similar mitigation strategies are essential to enhance climate resilience and ecosystem sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101141"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143748652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Economic and trade determinants of carbon emissions in the American region","authors":"Dithma Methmini ,&nbsp;Nimesha Dharmapriya ,&nbsp;Sandali Edirisinghe ,&nbsp;Vilan Gunawardena ,&nbsp;Ruwan Jayathilaka ,&nbsp;Colinie Wickramaarachchi ,&nbsp;Thanuja Dharmasena","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101140","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101140","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Balancing economic growth with sustainability has been a significant challenge over the past decades, largely due to the environmental damage caused by carbon emissions. This study investigates the relationship between energy consumption, gross domestic product (GDP), and trade openness and their impact on carbon emissions in 28 countries in the American region from 2000 to 2022. Using a multiple linear regression model for country-level analysis, the findings reveal diverse trends across the region. For instance, countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Guatemala demonstrate a strong link between economic growth and increased carbon emissions. In contrast, developed nations such as the United States and Canada show signs of decoupling GDP growth from emissions, supporting the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis, which suggests that higher income levels lead to reduced environmental degradation. The study highlights the importance of tailored, country-specific strategies to reduce emissions while promoting sustainable economic growth. A thorough understanding of the complex relationships between gross domestic product, energy consumption, trade openness, and carbon emissions will enable policymakers to devise strategies that balance ecological sustainability with socio-economic objectives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101140"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143734657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Presenting the urban physical construction development model using fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making and CA-Markov supported by remote sensing techniques","authors":"Sahab Bidgoli Kashani ,&nbsp;Mehran Fadavi ,&nbsp;Valiollah Azizifar","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101128","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101128","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>An effective approach to the scientific and practical management of urban construction and planning involves predicting future city construction scenarios. This strategy balances spatial allocation while considering various legal, economic, and environmental factors. Among the various products of remote sensing, satellite images have emerged as the most widely used and effective tools for evaluating both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of urban development in recent years. The data extracted from satellite images not only reveals historical changes in land use types but also serves as an essential input for predictive models concerning future urban physical development. In this research, Landsat satellite images from the periods of 1997–2007 and 2007–2017 were analyzed for Sari County. By incorporating key parameters influencing urban construction changes, a combination of fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making and CA-Markov models was proposed to simulate the physical construction development process for 2027. Following the validation of the 2017 prediction map, the developed 2027 map was simulated within the research environment. The estimated change maps and stability maps generated by the proposed model indicate that from 2017 to 2027, new areas will be under construction, which previously served other purposes, primarily agricultural and barren. To maintain sustainability, built development must be designed to preserve existing environmental resources while meeting economic and social needs, ensuring that growth is balanced and resilient for the future. Also, maintaining dynamism will be achieved through sustainable construction and development practices that support long-term resilience.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101128"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143697051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mapping and assessing ecosystem service supply in drylands of the Limpopo Corridor, Mozambique","authors":"Focas Francisco Bacar ,&nbsp;Sá Nogueira Lisboa ,&nbsp;Jaime Carlos Macuácua ,&nbsp;Almeida A. Sitoe","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101124","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101124","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ecosystems in drylands regions provide numerous services that support climate change adaptation, but both natural and human factors have massively degraded these ecosystems, jeopardising their capacity to provide critical services. Promoting sustainable management of these ecosystems is imperative for successful adaptation in such regions. However, the lack of spatially explicit and detailed information about ecosystems and their services hinders effective management and climate adaptation strategies. This study investigated the spatial distribution of ecosystems and their potential to provide key services along a dryland gradient in the Limpopo Corridor (LC). Using Landsat satellite imagery, we mapped a variety of ecosystems with high classification accuracy, and integrated this map with field-based data and InVEST models to assess ecosystem services. We identified and mapped 27 ecosystems in the corridor, with an overall accuracy of 95.8 %. The findings highlight the greater potential of the LC to provide vital livelihood diversification services supporting local communities' adaptation to climatic change. Specifically, the southern part of the corridor exhibited high potential for services such as medicinal plants, food, aesthetic value, erosion control, crop pollination, spiritual well-being, ecotherapy, and nutrient retention. In contrast, the northern part of the corridor showed the highest potential for habitat quality and recreational services. This study provides an important baseline for devising sustainable ecosystem management strategies and climate change adaptation plans in dryland regions under increasing socio-economic pressures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101124"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143680170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unlocking the potential of anaerobic digestion for tropical communities: The SUZDEE system's approach to biogas and biofertilizer production","authors":"Charndanai Tirapanampai ,&nbsp;Thamonwan Woraruthai ,&nbsp;Thipwan Jiemanukunkij ,&nbsp;Thanachad Chairob ,&nbsp;Panitan Thakhiew ,&nbsp;Suchada Sawatraksa ,&nbsp;Patchaneewan Witdyawudthikul ,&nbsp;Sasithorn Rungjaroenchaiwat ,&nbsp;Cheerapat Supawatkon ,&nbsp;Pattama Senthong ,&nbsp;Ruchareka Wittayawuttikul ,&nbsp;Pimchai Chaiyen ,&nbsp;Thanyaporn Wongnate","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101136","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101136","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents the implementation of the \"SUZDEE (<u>Su</u>stainable <u>Z</u>ero Waste <u>D</u>igestant for W<u>e</u>ll-B<u>e</u>ing)\" anaerobic digestion (AD) system in Thailand, addressing the challenge of food waste (FW) management. Developed using AD technology, the SUZDEE system offers several advantages, including ease of use, effective greenhouse gas emission management, and biofertilizer production. Over the course of one year, the system was implemented in 29 communities across 14 Thai provinces, processing 15,335 kg of FW. It produced 747 m³ of biogas (equivalent to 15,579 MJ) and 13,941 L of biofertilizer, generating an estimated 8,282 $ for the communities while reducing CO₂ emissions by 10,475 kgCO₂ equivalent. Additionally, the social return on investment (SROI) analysis demonstrated an additional value of 9,979 $, resulting in an SROI ratio of 1.0914. A satisfaction survey was also conducted, and the results indicated that users were satisfied with all aspects of the SUZDEE implementation, with an average satisfaction level of 4 out of 5. The implementation of SUZDEE systems in community settings aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 11 and 12, which focus on building sustainable cities and communities and promoting sustainable production and consumption, respectively. The data demonstrate that implementing multiple SUZDEE systems could catalyze a positive shift in Thailand's FW management practices, encouraging sustainable and economically viable approaches. Our results also suggest that AD systems similar to SUZDEE could be developed and applied across tropical countries with low-income populations, offering an opportunity to achieve a circular economy through resource-efficient and waste-to-wealth strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101136"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143680173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modeling carbon stock change and carbon dioxide emissions under different ecosystems in the Brazos River Basin, USA","authors":"Birhan Getachew Tikuye,&nbsp;Ram Lakhan Ray,&nbsp;Sanjita Gurau","doi":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101138","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envc.2025.101138","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anthropogenic activities, including land-use change, industrialization, fossil fuel combustion, agriculture practices, and livestock management, drive significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O. This study aims to assess carbon stock changes and emissions across different ecosystems within the Brazos River Basin, Texas, USA. Land use and land cover (LULC) data were derived from the National Land Cover Database (NLCD), offering a spatial resolution of 30 meters. Biomass carbon density data, both above- and below-ground, were acquired from the Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC), while soil organic carbon (SOC) data (0–30 cm depth) were obtained from global SOC databases. The Integrated Valuation of Ecosyst. Serv. and Trade-offs (InVEST) model was employed to estimate carbon stock changes, using a carbon stock difference approach to quantify changes between 2001 and 2021. Results reveal increasing water areas, built-up zones, barren lands, shrublands, herbaceous regions, agriculture, and wetlands, while forested and pasture areas decreased from 2001 to 2021. Specifically, barren lands, shrublands, and agricultural zones functioned as carbon sinks, sequestering 70,637.2, 678,313.7, and 652,036.7 tons of CO₂ annually, highlighting their role in atmospheric carbon mitigation. The overall net emission trend of 923,336.5 tons of CO₂ annually highlights the urgent need for strategic land management interventions such as afforestation, reforestation, soil conservation, wetland restoration, and sustainable grazing practices that enhance carbon storage, particularly in forested and pasture regions. Additional investigation into adaptive land-use strategies and conservation initiatives is crucial for strengthening sustainable ecosystem functions and reducing future emissions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34794,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Challenges","volume":"19 ","pages":"Article 101138"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143748651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}