Comparative comparison of the organic carbon stock of rangeland in Kermanshah province before and after the implementation of the Cadastre law

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Natural Resources and watershed management governance office of Kermanshah

2 Nature Engineering, Department, Faculty of natural resources and environment, Malayer University

Abstract

Soil carbon sequestration is widely recognized as a foundation for healthier ecosystems. By enriching soil structure and fertility, boosting vegetation productivity, and improving the soil’s ability to retain moisture, increased carbon storage can reduce both wind and water erosion and enhance overall landscape resilience. In this context, the rangelands of Kermanshah Province, one of western Iran’s most extensive ecological systems, hold considerable potential for organic carbon storage. This study set out to examine how aboveground organic carbon in rangeland vegetation has changed before and after the implementation of Iran’s National Cadastre Act, while also tracking shifts in the spatial extent of rangelands across the province. Using a quasi-experimental before–after design, we analyzed secondary data sourced from national agricultural yearbooks, cadastral implementation maps, and biomass production records across three rangeland density classes. Organic carbon storage was calculated for 14 counties, and differences between the two time periods were assessed using an independent-samples t-test. Despite a substantial decline of 194,525 hectares in total rangeland area (from 1,808,673 to 1,614,148 ha), our results show no statistically significant change in organic carbon storage across any rangeland class following the implementation of the cadastre law (p > 0.05). Carbon storage varied considerably across the province, with Sarpol-e Zahab showing the highest value (5671.57 kg/ha) and Gilan-e Gharb the lowest (3555.75 kg/ha). Overall, the findings suggest that the cadastre law alone has not yet translated into measurable ecological gains in carbon storage. This may indicate that institutional effects require a longer period to manifest, or that factors such as climate variability, grazing pressure, and underlying ecological conditions exert stronger influences. Moving forward, long-term and multi-dimensional studies will be essential to fully understand how cadastral policy interacts with rangeland carbon dynamics.

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