Systematic evaluation of industrial greenbelts for quantifying carbon sequestration potential of afforestation...

India's energy demand increased by 7.3% in 2023 compared to 2022 (5.6%), primarily met by coal-based thermal power plants (TPPs) that contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. In line with national climate goals set under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for 2030, India mandates 33% green cover within TPPs for carbon (C) sequestration. This study assesses the C sequestration potential of greenbelts at Tata Coastal Gujarat Power Limited (CGPL) plant (465 ha) and its township (TS, 13.86 ha). The analysis integrates field-based allometric biomass estimation with CASA modeling, supported by remote sensing (RS) and GIS-based evaluation of NDVI and NDBI indices. While the TS exhibited higher species richness (28 families, 3,706 trees), the TPP (19 families, 363,467 trees) recorded higher sequestration values (CO₂-equivalent: 52.52 Mg ha⁻¹ vs. 2.13 Mg ha⁻¹). Statistical modeling demonstrated that biomass accumulation was the strongest predictor of carbon storage (R² = 1 for biomass-CO₂eq) across both sites indicating that larger DBH and higher total biomass consistently resulted in greater CO₂eq sequestration. NDVI-based analysis indicated a consistent increase in vegetation health over 2010-2023, while NDBI showed moderate expansion in built-up area. CASA estimates annual CO₂ sequestration of ~8,745 Mg ha^-1 for TPP and 1058 Mg ha^-1 for the TS. This study provides a reference framework for afforestation-driven carbon mitigation by optimizing green areas within industrial landscapes, thereby contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).