Iranian Journal of Applied Ecology

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Soleimanipour S S, Mohammadyari F. Integrated Analysis of Ecosystem Functioning and Economic Valuation of Carbon Sequestration and Storage in the Takhtedaraz Watershed: An InVEST-based Approach. Iranian Journal of Applied Ecology 2026; 15 (1) :31-51
URL: http://ijae.iut.ac.ir/article-1-1318-en.html

Understanding how land-use changes affect regional carbon storage is essential for maintaining the carbon balance of ecosystems. To this end, this study modeled spatiotemporal carbon storage and sequestration using the Carbon Storage and Sequestration model of InVEST over a 20-year period (2004–2024; 1383–1403) and assessed its economic value using the social cost of carbon (SCC) method. The results showed that over the past two decades, a considerable decrease in dense forests and an increase in forests with lower canopy cover indicate gradual degradation of natural forest structure. These changes led to a decrease in mean carbon storage from 10.5 to 9.54 tons per hectare (about 9%), a decrease in total carbon storage from 43.4 to 40.2 million tons, and an estimated net carbon sequestration of −3.23 million tons during the study period. Also, based on the results, the economic value of carbon stored in 2024 was estimated at 899 Hemmat, and the average annual carbon sequestration rate over the period 1383–1403 (2004–2024) was estimated at −197,597 tons. The results of this study can provide a valuable scientific basis for optimizing land-use/land-cover strategies, conserving natural ecosystems, and planning related to sustainable carbon management in the study area.