Global Warming Mitigation Through Carbon Sequestrations in the Central Western Ghats

Abstract

Global warming with the escalation in greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint (400 ppm from 280 ppm CO2 emissions of the pre-industrial era) and consequent changes in the climate have been affecting the livelihood of people with the erosion of ecosystem productivity. The anthropogenic activities such as power generation (burning of fossil fuels), agriculture (livestock, farming, rice cultivation and burning of crop residues), polluting water bodies, and industry and urban activities (transport, mismanagement of solid, liquid waste, etc.) have risen substantially CO2 concentrations to 72% among GHGs. Emissions and sequestration of carbon need to be in balance to sustain ecosystem functions and maintain the environmental conditions. Forests are the major carbon sinks to mitigate global warming. The current research focusses on the carbon budgeting through quantification of emissions and sinks in the Uttara Kannada district, central Western Ghats, Karnataka. This would help in evolving appropriate mitigation strategies towards sustainable management of forests. The study reveals that total carbon stored in vegetation and soils are 56,911.79 Gg and 59,693.44 Gg, respectively. The annual carbon increment in forests is about 975.81 Gg. Carbon uptake by the natural forest is about 2416.69 Gg/year and by the forest plantations is 963.28 Gg/year amounting to the total of 3379.97 Gg/year. Sector-wise carbon emissions are 87.70 Gg/year (livestock), 101.57 Gg/year (paddy cultivation), 77.20 Gg/year (fuel wood consumption), and 437.87 Gg/year (vehicular transport), respectively. The analysis highlights that forest ecosystems in Uttara Kannada are playing a significant role in the mitigation of regional as well as global carbon emissions. Hence, the premium should be on conservation of the remaining native forests, which are vital for the water security (perennial streams) and food security (sustenance of biodiversity) and mitigation of global warming through carbon sequestration. Sustainable management ecosystem practices involving local stakeholders will further enhance the ability of forests to sequester atmospheric carbon apart from other ecosystem services, such as hydrological services and improvements in soil and water quality.