Forest land use change impacts on carbon stocks: Perspectives from the Northern mountainous region, Vietnam

In the context of increasing deforestation and climate change, this study aims to assess the impact of changes in forest land use on carbon stocks in the mountainous region of Northern Vietnam, one of the key ecological regions but under great pressure from economic development and deforestation. Using remote sensing data, geographic information systems (GIS), and methods to calculate wood volume, the study looked at changes in forest size, carbon storage, and CO 2 absorption in 9 provinces from 2000 to 2020. The results show that the total forest area in the region has decreased by more than 4500 km 2 in two decades, leading to significant declines in biomass volume, carbon stocks, and CO 2 absorption capacity. Some provinces, such as Tuyen Quang, Son La, and Lao Cai, recorded the largest forest degradation, while Lang Son and Lai Chau showed positive recovery trends. Regional carbon emissions exceeded 1.3 million tons during the study period, concentrated mainly in the 2000–2010 period. These changes reflect the simultaneous impacts of land conversion, infrastructure development, resource exploitation, and livelihood pressures. The study provides scientific evidence on the link between deforestation and the carbon balance and offers policy implications for sustainable forest resource management and greenhouse gas emission mitigation in Vietnam. • Northern Vietnam lost 4569 km 2 of forest from 2000 to 2020, emitting 1.34 Mt CO 2 . • Tuyen Quang, Son La, and Lao Cai saw big losses; Lang Son and Lai Chau showed gains. • Causes: farming expansion, illegal logging, hydropower, roads, weak governance. • Loss reduced CO 2 uptake and raised erosion, flood, and environmental risks. • Study urges green jobs, strict laws, and forests in land-use planning.