Researchers from the Graduate School, Universitas Padjadjaran have conducted a crucial study on how land-use and cover changes in Rancakalong District, West Java, have affected regional aboveground carbon stocks. Utilizing a blend of ground-based carbon inventories, remote sensing, and the InVEST modeling framework, the team assessed landscape-scale carbon dynamics between 2009 and 2021. Their findings show that while vegetated areas slightly increased overall, conversion of mixed gardens through urban expansion—especially driven by the Cisumdawu Highway project—caused a significant net loss of approximately 11,096 tons of carbon stock, with mixed gardens losing their dominance as the primary carbon reservoir. Mixed gardens still contributed the most carbon, but this dropped from 64% to 52%, while bare land steadily grew—a concerning sign of carbon storage erosion.

This research supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

SDG 13 (Climate Action) — by highlighting the carbon emissions impact of land conversion and stressing the importance of preserving high-carbon ecosystems like mixed agroforestry systems.

SDG 15 (Life on Land) — through emphasizing the ecological role of mixed gardens in sustained carbon storage and biodiversity.

SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) — by providing actionable insights for planners to balance infrastructure development with ecological stewardship.

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