An assessment of high carbon stock and high conservation value approaches in mining area

The impact of forest degradation due to open-pit mining activities causes sustainable ecological damage. Mining activities that are not organized due to the mineral exploration process have resulted in many forest areas experiencing degradation. This degradation certainly reduces the level of carbon sequestration in the area, impacting the sustainability of environmental functions around the mining area. The high carbon stock (HCS) approach is a way to help companies implement their 'no deforestation' commitments. The high carbon stock approach will identify forests that must be protected and land that can be developed. Forests with high carbon stocks are maintained because they function as carbon stores, habitats for biodiversity, and provide the necessities of life for local communities. Therefore, this study aims to obtain data on the potential for carbon stocks and create a spatial model for distributing carbon content in the concession area of PT. Vale Indonesia can later be determined as high conservation value (HCV) areas using the high carbon stock approach. Measurement of carbon content in the study used an allometric equation that has been developed, then the distribution of carbon was made using the spatial vegetation index model obtained from Sentinel 2 imagery. The results showed an area of 30,526.49 (42.97%), which had high carbon stock with an average carbon stock of 106.09 ton/ha, which needed to be maintained as an area of high conservation value in the mining area of PT. Vale Indonesia.