High-resolution estimation of carbon storage in Zhejiang’s plantations

Plantations are a proven strategy for climate change mitigation, and Zhejiang leads China’s plantation development. However, the lack of long-term, high-resolution spatiotemporal analyses of carbon storage may hinder efforts to optimize their climate benefits. Thus, this study created a high-resolution dataset of plantation carbon storage for Zhejiang from 1990 to 2020, highlighting key hotspots and identifying areas with significant growth potential. The results reveal a rapid increase in both total plantation carbon storage and carbon sequestration efficiency in Zhejiang. The distribution of plantation carbon storage exhibits notable spatial heterogeneity, with concentrations in southern and western Zhejiang. Eastern Zhejiang demonstrates the highest carbon sequestration efficiency. Lishui leads the transition to mature plantations, boasting the largest plantation area and the highest total carbon storage. Hangzhou, ranking second in both metrics, surpasses Lishui in carbon storage per unit area and growth rate. The spatiotemporal distribution of forest carbon is closely linked to tree species and age structure. Masson pine is primarily found in the eastern and western regions, while Chinese fir is more concentrated in the southern and northern areas. Southern and western regions feature older plantations. Despite the ongoing growth of plantation carbon storage in Zhejiang, optimizing tree species distribution and forest age structure holds significant potential to further enhance carbon storage. Our findings are crucial for guiding plantation development and advancing the realization of the Zhejiang’s “dual carbon goals.”