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

[Geoengineering News]

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10661-025-14559-5

Authors: Nirav P. Raval, Aravind D, A. N. Ramesh, Himanshu Pandey, Pradeep Kumar Ghosal, Milind Rawal & Mrugesh H. Trivedi 

09 September 2025

Abstract

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).

Source: Springer Nature Link