Impacts of forest cover change on carbon stock, carbon emission and land surface temperature in Sor watershed, Baro Akobo Basin, Western Ethiopia

Human-induced actions aggravate forest degradation and result in carbon emissions. Increment of carbon emission raises land surface temperature (LST) and contributes to climate change. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of forest cover change on carbon stocks, carbon emissions and LST over the period 1992–2022 using geospatial techniques in the Sor watershed, Western Ethiopia. The results revealed that forest land declined by 336.6 km2 due to the expansion of agricultural land with an area of 274.9 km2. Results show a decline in carbon stock of 58,883.4 tons/km2 while annual carbon emission exhibited an increasing trend of 2,418,083.91 tons to the atmosphere over the past three decades. As vegetation declined, LST increased by an average of 3.7 °C over the past three decades. All actors, including government and non-governmental organizations, should contribute to tree planting and reafforestation programmes to minimize the increasing trend of LST and carbon emissions. Furthermore, we need to build a climate-resilient green economy to protect people from the negative impacts of climate change. HIGHLIGHTS Geospatial technology is used to evaluate the effects of forest cover change on carbon stock degradation.; Forest land declined by 336.6 km2 due to the expansion of agricultural land with an area of 274.9 km2.; Carbon stock declined by 58,883.4 tons/km2 while annual carbon emission exhibited an increasing trend of 2,418,083.91 tons.;