[Simulating Changes in Ecosystem Carbon Storage and Analyzing Influencing Factors in the Central Zhejiang under the...

Central Zhejiang is the key ecological function area of Zhejiang Province and an important part of the Qiantang River ecological corridor. Conducting simulations of ecosystem carbon storage changes and analyzing influencing factors under land-use changes in this region is of significant importance for achieving the goals of "peak carbon" and "carbon neutrality" at an early stage. This study, based on the land use data of five periods from 1980 to 2020 in central Zhejiang, coupled the GeoSOS-FLUS and the InVEST model to analyze the spatiotemporal changes in carbon storage in the region over time and project for the year 2030. The study also explored the impact of socio-economic and natural factors on changes in carbon storage. The results showed that： ① Between 1980 and 2020, urban construction land in the Zhejiang Central Region increased by 289.91%, with cultivated land and forest land being the main sources, leading to a 3% decrease in ecosystem carbon storage, amounting to 588.88×10⁴ tons. ② High-value areas of carbon storage in the Zhejiang Central Region were concentrated in P'an-an County, Jinyun County, Wuyi County, and other areas. ③ Under the two different scenarios of natural development and ecological protection, carbon storage in the research area was projected to decrease by 1.05% and 0.05%, respectively, by 2030 compared to that in 2020. ④ Natural factors dominated the distribution of carbon storage, but their influence was gradually decreasing over time. The impact of socio-economic factors was increasing, and the combined effect of socio-economic and natural factors far outweighed the influence of a single factor on carbon storage distribution. These findings can serve as a scientific reference and guide for mitigating carbon loss in ecosystems, promoting ecosystem protection, facilitating sustainable social development, and achieving the "dual carbon" goals in Zhejiang and other regions nationwide.