ASSESSMENT OF SENTINEL-2-DERIVED VEGETATION INDICES FOR THE ESTIMATION OF ABOVE-GROUND BIOMASS/CARBON STOCK, TEMPORAL DEFORESTATION AND CARBON EMISSIONS ESTIMATION IN THE MOIST TEMPERATE FORESTS OF PAKISTAN.

In developing countries like Pakistan, leading CO2 emission source is deforestation of temperate forests, which must be estimated precisely for resilient climate policy. This research evaluates temporal deforestation, above and below ground carbon stock, biomass estimation potential of vegetation indices derived from Sentinel-2 imagery, carbon emission from deforestation and carbon sequestration potential. Forest inventory data was collected and used in allometric equations, to calculate aboveground biomass and carbon stock. The temporal deforestation rate was estimated using LANDSAT 7 & 8 (2000 -2015) data. Biomass was predicted using the most optimal VI by developing linear regression model. The carbon emission from deforestation was estimated using activity data and emission factor. Above ground biomass and carbon stock estimated for the study area were 148.79 t/ha and 69.93 t/ha with mean CO₂ equivalent value of 322.5 t/ha. The estimated forest cover change using Landsat satellite data (2000-2015) was about 16.88% with 2.51% annual deforestation rate. Relationship between red-edge VIs and AGB were the best and reduced saturation problem. Carbon loss in fifteen years were about 6.96 Mt CO₂ e. The carbon sequestration capacity for the study area was 82.07 t/ha ± 13 t/ha. This research methodology is cost effective, helps in sustainable forest management and reduces carbon losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]