Changes in environmental and economic benefits caused by land use policies in the East Asian monsoon region

Terrestrial ecosystems play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by offsetting anthropogenic carbon emissions. Land cover and land use (LCLU) changes, in particular, are key factors that directly impact on the carbon balance of vegetation. The East Asian monsoon region has recently experienced extensive anthropogenic LCLU changes, increasing the need to evaluate the impacts of land use policies on carbon budget and their associated economic benefits. This study quantitatively assessed the environmental and economic benefits resulting from LCLU changes in the Sichuan region and the Loess Plateau, where land use policies have been implemented within the East Asian monsoon region. Based on the implementation of China’s reforestation policy (i.e., Grain for Green Program) in 1999, we compared two periods (1982–1998 and 1999–2015). The results revealed that total vegetation carbon storage in the Sichuan region increased by 7.7 times compared to the early period, while the Loess Plateau showed a relatively limited increase due to its arid climate conditions. In terms of economic benefits, both regions experienced an increase after reforestation policy implementation, with the Sichuan region showing particularly significant gains. These findings highlight the need for differentiated land use policies that consider regional geographic characteristics and provide an important baseline for policy development aimed at enhancing the carbon sequestration potential of terrestrial ecosystems.