Temporal and Spatial Changes and Driving Forces of Carbon Stocks and Net Ecosystem Productivity: A Case Study of Zoige County, Sichuan Province, China

Abstract

This study analysed the spatiotemporal changes in carbon stocks and Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) in Zoige County, Upper Yellow River, from 2000 to 2020 in response to China’s ecological civilization ideology and sustainable development. The carbon stock module of the InVEST model and carbon source/sink calculation formula were employed, and GeoDetector was used to analyze driving forces and spatial distributions. The findings were as follows: (1) The land use in Zoige County had undergone significant changes over the past two decades, characterized by a reduction in grassland area due to its conversion into woodland and peat wetland. (2) The carbon stock in Zoige County had consistently increased, accumulating 5.19 × 106 tons. (3) Zoige County had functioned as net ecosystem productivity (NEP) over the past two decades, with increasing trends, averaging 3.335 kg C/m². (4) The primary driving force behind changes in carbon stock and NEP were identified as ‘biological abundance’.