Land-use change and carbon stocks: A case study, Noor County, Iran

Land-use changes and land cover strongly influence carbon stock and distribution within ecosystems. Changing the land-use from natural forest to other land-uses has been more rapid in the past few decades than at any time in Iran’s history. In this study, we investigated the effects of changing the land-use from natural forest to other land-uses on carbon stocks in northern Iran. We selected five sites for this study: (I) a natural forest, (II) an agricultural field and (III) plantations of three different species (Alnus subcordata. L, Acer velutinum.Boiss and Cupressus sempervirens). We examined the effects of land-use changes on: (I) soil carbon stock (0–50 cm depth), (II) biomass and carbon content of grassy vegetation and litter and (III) above- and below-ground biomass C in trees. Soil C stock was higher under A. velutinum and C. sempervirens whereas it was lower under A. subcordata and agricultural sites. Biomass and C content of grassy vegetation were significantly higher at A. velutinum and C. sempervirens plantations. However, litter biomass and C content were significantly higher at the natural forest site. Natural forest had the highest amount of C content in above- and below-ground biomass. Total ecosystem C stocks declined following land-use changes.