Urbanization-led land cover change impacts terrestrial carbon storage capacity: A high-resolution remote sensing-based nation-wide assessment in Pakistan (1990–2020) -

This dataset provides high-resolution, nationwide land use/land cover (LULC) and terrestrial carbon stock maps of Pakistan for four epochs: 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020. Developed using multi-sensor satellite imagery and advanced classification techniques in Google Earth Engine (GEE), the dataset presents a comprehensive analysis of land cover changes driven by urbanization and their impacts on carbon storage capacity over 30 years.

The LULC data includes nine distinct classes, covering key land cover types such as forest cover, agriculture, rangeland, wetlands, barren lands, water bodies, built-up areas, and snow/ice. Classification was performed using a hybrid machine learning approach, and the accuracy of the land cover maps was validated using a stratified random sampling approach.

The carbon stock maps were derived using the InVEST model, which estimated carbon storage in four major carbon pools (above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass, soil organic carbon, and dead organic matter) based on the LULC maps. The results showed a significant decline in carbon storage due to rapid urban expansion, particularly in major cities like Karachi and Lahore, where substantial forest and agricultural lands were converted into urban areas. The study estimates that Pakistan lost approximately -5% of its carbon storage capacity over this period, with urban areas growing by over ~1040%.

This dataset is a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and environmental managers, providing crucial insights into the long-term impacts of urbanization on land cover and carbon sequestration. It is expected to support future land management strategies, urban planning, and climate change mitigation efforts. The high temporal and spatial resolution of the dataset makes it ideal for monitoring land cover dynamics and assessing ecosystem services over time.

This dataset is aslo available as Google Earth Engine application. For more details check:

> Github Project repository: https://github.com/waleedgeo/lulc_pk
> Paper DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2023.107396
> Paper PDF: https://waleedgeo.com/papers/waleed2024_paklulc.pdf
 
If you find this work useful, please consider citing it as 

Waleed, M., Sajjad, M., & Shazil, M. S. (2024). Urbanization-led land cover change impacts terrestrial carbon storage capacity: A high-resolution remote sensing-based nation-wide assessment in Pakistan (1990–2020). Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 105, 107396.

Contributors:
Mirza Waleed (email) (Linkedin)
Muhammad Sajjad (email) (Linkedin)
Muhammad Shareef Shazil

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