56
T. V. Ramachandra and S. Bharath
assess the extent and role of drivers of the carbon emissions to evolve strategies to
mitigate changes in the climate. Advancements in Geoinformatics (GIS technologies) and availability of the multi resolution temporal remote sensing data with field
data have aided in the land-use land cover mapping, quantification of above ground
biomass (AGB), below ground biomass (BGB), and soil carbon. The remote sensing
with continuous data support has been useful in the quantification of carbon footprint
through measurement of carbon stock and emissions, which vary with the climate,
land-use practices, and changes in the land cover and land uses [7, 40]. The insights of
carbon dynamics through quantification of carbon footprint and the extent of carbon
removal by carbon sinks would help in evolving strategies and frame appropriate
policies to mitigate carbon footprint and implement location-specific conservation
measures.
Afforestation with the location-specific endemic species of vegetation, arresting
deforestation process through the improved regulatory mechanisms, transition to the
energy-efficient devices, and environmentally sound technologies are some of the
potential approaches for sequestering carbon and mitigate carbon emissions. Plants
(trees, grasses, herbs) take up atmospheric carbon dioxide during photosynthesis
and stored as carbon in biomass (trunks, branches, foliage, roots) and soils. Storing
carbon in forests or through plantations in the form of standing biomass constitutes a potential carbon capture and storage (CCS) option [32]. The global potential
of carbon sequestration through plants was estimated as 5–15 Gt C/year, which
depends on the land-use practices, climate, etc. [23]. REDD and REDD + initiative
(Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Degradation) developed by Parties to
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an
efficient strategy to promote conservation while reducing greenhouse gas emissions
due to deforestation and forest degradations (accounting to 11% of global carbon
emissions). Mitigation of impacts of the changes in climate and stabilizing global
average temperatures within two degrees Celsius entails reducing emissions from
the forest sector, in addition to other sector mitigation actions. REDD + creates
a financial value for the carbon stored in forests by providing financial incentives
to the developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in
low-carbon paths to sustainable development through increasing forest cover, lessening nationwide deforestation rates, carbon emissions, and reducing degradation
of various geographical regions [57]. The carbon credit payment scheme as per the
Kyoto Protocol obligations is another initiative to curb the carbon and carbon sequestration through effective management. The scheme allocated credits according to the
actual amount of carbon sequestered by the trees as modest land based ($77.91 per
hectare per year) and tree based ($0.2 per m
3 per year) to minimize the abandonment
or degradation of forests [18]. These international initiatives toward mitigation of
carbon dioxide emissions through improved forestry activities necessitate the understanding of spatial and temporal carbon dynamics. Objectives of the current research
are (i) understanding spatial patterns of land-use dynamics in Karnataka State, India;
(ii) quantification of the carbon emissions; (iii) estimation of the carbon sequestration potential of forests plants and soil; (iv) assessment of the impact of LULC
changes on carbon sequestration potential; (v) likely scenario of carbon dynamics
T. V. Ramachandra and S. Bharath
assess the extent and role of drivers of the carbon emissions to evolve strategies to
mitigate changes in the climate. Advancements in Geoinformatics (GIS technologies) and availability of the multi resolution temporal remote sensing data with field
data have aided in the land-use land cover mapping, quantification of above ground
biomass (AGB), below ground biomass (BGB), and soil carbon. The remote sensing
with continuous data support has been useful in the quantification of carbon footprint
through measurement of carbon stock and emissions, which vary with the climate,
land-use practices, and changes in the land cover and land uses [7, 40]. The insights of
carbon dynamics through quantification of carbon footprint and the extent of carbon
removal by carbon sinks would help in evolving strategies and frame appropriate
policies to mitigate carbon footprint and implement location-specific conservation
measures.
Afforestation with the location-specific endemic species of vegetation, arresting
deforestation process through the improved regulatory mechanisms, transition to the
energy-efficient devices, and environmentally sound technologies are some of the
potential approaches for sequestering carbon and mitigate carbon emissions. Plants
(trees, grasses, herbs) take up atmospheric carbon dioxide during photosynthesis
and stored as carbon in biomass (trunks, branches, foliage, roots) and soils. Storing
carbon in forests or through plantations in the form of standing biomass constitutes a potential carbon capture and storage (CCS) option [32]. The global potential
of carbon sequestration through plants was estimated as 5–15 Gt C/year, which
depends on the land-use practices, climate, etc. [23]. REDD and REDD + initiative
(Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Degradation) developed by Parties to
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an
efficient strategy to promote conservation while reducing greenhouse gas emissions
due to deforestation and forest degradations (accounting to 11% of global carbon
emissions). Mitigation of impacts of the changes in climate and stabilizing global
average temperatures within two degrees Celsius entails reducing emissions from
the forest sector, in addition to other sector mitigation actions. REDD + creates
a financial value for the carbon stored in forests by providing financial incentives
to the developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in
low-carbon paths to sustainable development through increasing forest cover, lessening nationwide deforestation rates, carbon emissions, and reducing degradation
of various geographical regions [57]. The carbon credit payment scheme as per the
Kyoto Protocol obligations is another initiative to curb the carbon and carbon sequestration through effective management. The scheme allocated credits according to the
actual amount of carbon sequestered by the trees as modest land based ($77.91 per
hectare per year) and tree based ($0.2 per m
3 per year) to minimize the abandonment
or degradation of forests [18]. These international initiatives toward mitigation of
carbon dioxide emissions through improved forestry activities necessitate the understanding of spatial and temporal carbon dynamics. Objectives of the current research
are (i) understanding spatial patterns of land-use dynamics in Karnataka State, India;
(ii) quantification of the carbon emissions; (iii) estimation of the carbon sequestration potential of forests plants and soil; (iv) assessment of the impact of LULC
changes on carbon sequestration potential; (v) likely scenario of carbon dynamics