1.School of Soil and Water Conservation,Beijing Forestry University,Beijing 100083,China
2.Institute of Water Resources for Pastoral Area,Ministry of Water Resources,Hohhot 010020,China
3.Yellow River Great Bend Region Eco-environmental Change and Integrated Management Field Observation and Research Station of Inner Mongolia,Hohhot 010020,China
Objective This study aims to clarify the impact of land use and land cover change (LUCC) on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in the Three-North Shelterbelt Program (TNSP) region, providing a theoretical basis for evaluating regional carbon sequestration potential and optimizing land management strategies. Methods Based on data from 1995 to 2020, this study integrated spatial analysis, zonal statistics, and ordinary least squares (OLS) linear regression to analyze the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of SOC stocks. Results (1) During the study period, the areas of forestland and water bodies increased, while cropland, grassland, and wetland contracted. (2) The distribution of forestland and grassland exhibited a distinct spatial shift toward regions with higher aridity levels. Specifically, newly added grasslands were concentrated in semi-arid (56.06%) and arid (26.06%) areas. Newly added forestlands were primarily located in semi-arid (34.81%) and dry sub-humid (34.51%) areas, whereas forestland loss was notably concentrated in humid areas (68.30%). (3) Total SOC stocks in the region showed an overall increasing trend, with grassland (270.41 Tg C) and forestland (181.20 Tg C) serving as the primary contributors to carbon sequestration. However, driven by agricultural expansion, the reverse conversion of ecological lands (forestland, grassland, and wetland) resulted in a cumulative SOC loss of 52.2 Tg C. Conclusion The dynamics of SOC stocks in the TNSP region are driven by land use change and regulated by the regional aridity level. Future efforts should continue to advance the construction of the TNSP and strictly adhere to the principle of “water-determined greening”, while strengthening the ecological safety barrier in northern China.
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