Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Forest Vegetation Carbon Storage in Guangyuan

To clarify the quantitative characteristics of carbon storage and carbon density of forest vegetation in Guangyuan City and provide a basis for the development of forestry carbon sinks, this study, based on the comprehensive monitoring data of forest and grassland ecology in Guangyuan in 2023,estimated the carbon storage and carbon density of forest vegetation using the biomass conversion factor method,aiming to reveal the carbon sink pattern and spatial distribution characteristics of the complex ecosystem in the hinterland of the Qinba Mountain Area.The results show that: (1) The total carbon storage of forest vegetation in Guangyuan is 4094.72×10² t, with an average carbon density of 36.26 t/hm². Among them, the tree forest contributes 97.02% of the total carbon storage and is the core carrier of regional carbon sink function. (2) Carbon storage and carbon density show obvious meridional and vertical zonal characteristics. The high-value areas are concentrated in the mountainous regions around the Longmen Mountains in the northwest and the Qinling-Micang Mountains in the northeast, while the low-value areas are mainly located in the hilly areas in the south. (3) Carbon storage decreases with increasing altitude and is mainly concentrated in areas with an altitude of less than 2 000 meters. The carbon storage is the highest in sloping areas with a gradient of 16° to 25°. The carbon density on the shady slope/semi-shady slope is slightly higher than that on the sunny slope/semi-sunny slope. A comparison with historical data shows that the carbon storage of tree forests in Guangyuan has significantly increased over the past two decades, but the carbon density is still lower than the national and Sichuan provincial averages, reflecting that there is still considerable room for improvement in forest quality. The results of this study can provide data support and decision-making basis for the precise assessment of forest carbon sinks and regional ecological management in Guangyuan.