Carbon storage trade-offs and invasive species management in baluran national park: An integrated InVEST approach

Ecosystems play a crucial role in carbon storage, with each ecosystem type having a different storage capacity. Baluran National Park comprises several ecosystems, including savannas, coastal, mountainous, mangrove, and evergreen forests invaded by Acacia nilotica, all of which impact carbon storage. This study aims to quantify and map the distribution of carbon storage across various land-cover classes in Baluran National Park. The analysis uses a 2024 land-cover map, biogeophysical data (aboveground and belowground biomass, soil organic carbon, deadwood) derived following IPCC and FREL guidelines, and is conducted using the InVEST Carbon Storage and Sequestration model. The results show that secondary forests have the highest carbon storage of 8,86 x 105 tC, primarily in aboveground biomass due to tall stands and dense canopies. Among non-forest classes, A.nilotica stands have the highest carbon storage at 1,28 x 105 tC dominated by belowground biomass because this leguminous species develops a large root system. Despite its contribution to carbon stocks, A. nilotica litter contains allelopathic compounds that suppress understorey vegetation and disrupt savanna dynamics. These findings highlight a trade-off between maximizing carbon storage and conserving native savanna ecosystems, underscoring the importance of integrating invasive species control into carbon-oriented conservation planning in Baluran National Park.