Abstract:Assessing the impact of land use changes on carbon storage under different development scenarios is crucial for identifying priority areas for ecological protection and restoration, and for informing land use planning and carbon mitigation strategies. This study integrated GIS, the PLUS model, and the InVEST model to analyze land use and carbon storage dynamics in Lanzhou from 2000 to 2020. It projected future changes under three scenarios: urban development, natural development, and ecological protection. Results indicate that from 2000 to 2020, arable and grassland areas declined while construction land expanded significantly, leading to a marked reduction in overall carbon storage. By 2030, carbon storage is expected to decline sharply under the urban development scenario, decrease moderately under natural development scenario, and partially recover under ecological protection scenario, particularly in forest areas. Positive correlations were found between carbon storage and vegetation coverage, while negative correlations were observed with population density. Policy recommendations include implementing robust ecological protection, limiting urban sprawl, and optimizing transportation infrastructure to enhance regional carbon sequestration and sustainability.