Net Carbon Sequestration Research Articles

Tree planting in organic soils does not result in net carbon sequestration on decadal timescales.

Tree planting is increasingly being proposed as a strategy to combat climate change through carbon (C) sequestration in tree biomass. However, total ecosystem C storage that includes soil organic C (SOC) must be considered to determine whether planting trees for climate change mitigation results in increased C storage. We show that planting two native tree species (Betula pubescens and Pinus sylvestris), of widespread Eurasian distribution, onto heather (Calluna vulgaris) moorland with podzolic and peaty podzolic soils in Scotland, did not lead to an increase in net ecosystem C stock 12 or 39years after planting. Plots with trees had greater soil respiration and lower SOC in organic soil horizons than heather control plots. The decline in SOC cancelled out the increment in C stocks in tree biomass on decadal timescales. At all four experimental sites sampled, there was no net gain in ecosystem C stocks 12-39years after afforestation-indeed we found a net ecosystem C loss in one of four sites with deciduous B. pubescens stands; no net gain in ecosystem C at three sites planted with B. pubescens; and no net gain at additional stands of P. sylvestris. We hypothesize that altered mycorrhizal communities and autotrophic C inputs have led to positive 'priming' of soil organic matter, resulting in SOC loss, constraining the benefits of tree planting for ecosystem C sequestration. The results are of direct relevance to current policies, which promote tree planting on the assumption that this will increase net ecosystem C storage and contribute to climate change mitigation. Ecosystem-level biogeochemistry and C fluxes must be better quantified and understood before we can be assured that large-scale tree planting in regions with considerable pre-existing SOC stocks will have the intended policy and climate change mitigation outcomes.

Promotion function of forest vegetation on the water & carbon coupling cycle in karst critical zone: Insights from karst groundwater systems in south China

The earth is gradually turning green due to afforestation, especially in China. Because the carbon cycle is driven by the groundwater cycle in karstification, the process of water & carbon coupling cycle (PWCC) in karst forest area can not only promote vegetation growth but also enhance chemical weathering processes of carbonate rocks to absorb more CO2. Therefore, carbon sequestration can occur during the process of ecological restoration in karst areas. However, forest respiration also increases with the vegetation growth which can produce extra CO2 back to atmosphere. To study the promotion function of forest vegetation during different succession stages on the PWCC in karst critical zone, three karst groundwater systems with different vegetation coverages (a native forest, a secondary forest during reforestation and a crop area in rural land) are chosen in southwest China. Their long-term monitoring of indicators, including precipitation (P), partial pressure of air CO2 (PCO2), groundwater discharge (Q), hydrochemical and isotope components, was conducted. The results indicated that part of CO2 produced by forest respiration diffuses into the atmosphere as a carbon source, and the remaining dissolves into the groundwater, thereby increasing corrodibility. The carbon sequestration mechanism differs at different vegetation succession stages. The secondary forest development stage displays an obvious carbon sequestration effect during the process of rocky desertification control. When the succession stage approaches the top-level ecosystem, the carbon sequestration effect descend sharply until the net carbon sequestration can be ignored.

Direct measurement forest carbon protocol: a commercial system-of-systems to incentivize forest restoration and management

Forest carbon sequestration offsets are methodologically uncertain, comprise a minor component of carbon markets and do not effectively slow deforestation. The objective of this study is to describe a commercial scale in situ measurement approach for determination of net forest carbon sequestration projects, the Direct Measurement Forest Carbon Protocol™, to address forest carbon market uncertainties. In contrast to protocols that rely on limited forest mensuration, growth simulation and exclusion of CO2 data, the Direct Measurement Forest Carbon Protocol™ is based on standardized methods for direct determination of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO2 employing eddy covariance, a meteorological approach integrating forest carbon fluxes. NEE is used here as the basis for quantifying the first of its kind carbon financial products. The DMFCP differentiates physical, project and financial carbon within a System-of-Systems™ (SoS) network architecture. SoS sensor nodes, the Global Monitoring Platform™ (GMP), housing analyzers for CO2 isotopologues (e.g., 12CO2,13CO2, 14CO2) and greenhouse gases are deployed across the project landscape. The SoS standardizes and automates GMP measurement, uncertainty and reporting functions creating diverse forest carbon portfolios while reducing cost and investment risk in alignment with modern portfolio theory. To illustrate SoS field deployment and operation, published annual NEE data for a tropical (Ankasa Park, Ghana, Africa) and a deciduous forest (Harvard Forest, Petersham, MA, USA) are used to forecast carbon revenue. Carbon pricing scenarios are combined with historical in situ NEE annual time-series to extrapolate pre-tax revenue for each project applied to 100,000 acres (40,469 hectares) of surrounding land. Based on carbon pricing of $5 to $36 per ton CO2 equivalent (tCO2eq) and observed NEE sequestration rates of 0.48 to 15.60 tCO2eq acre−1 yr−1, pre-tax cash flows ranging from $230,000 to $16,380,000 across project time-series are calculated, up to 5× revenue for contemporary voluntary offsets, demonstrating new economic incentives to reverse deforestation. The SoS concept of operation and architecture, with engineering development, can be extended to diverse gas species across terrestrial, aquatic and oceanic ecosystems, harmonizing voluntary and compliance market products worldwide to assist in the management of global warming. The Direct Measurement Forest Carbon Protocol reduces risk of invalidation intrinsic to estimation-based protocols such as the Climate Action Reserve and the Clean Development Mechanism that do not observe molecular CO2 to calibrate financial products. Multinational policy applications such as the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation, constrained by Kyoto Protocol era processes, will benefit from NEE measurement avoiding unsupported claims of emission reduction, fraud, and forest conservation policy failure.

Plant Population Dynamics in a Degraded Coastal Wetland and Implications for the Carbon Cycle

Habitat destruction caused by human activities is threatening wetland plants. Based on Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 8 OLI, and Google Earth images, we analysed the spatiotemporal dynamics of plant populations in a degraded wetland in the Minjiang River Estuary from 2009 to 2019. Field survey records, tasselled cap transformation, and supervised classification were used for the image interpretation. The results indicate that the plant habitat area decreased by 42.1% over these 10 years. Consequently, the distribution area of each dominant species declined, and the proportion of total vegetated area in the habitat decreased from 53.1% to 32.6%. Moreover, the dominance relations of the species changed from Spartina alterniflora > Phragmites australis > Cyperus malaccensis > Scirpus triqueter to P. australis > S. alterniflora > C. malaccensis > S. triqueter. We predict that the vegetation landscape in the wetland will be composed exclusively of P. australis and S. alterniflora if habitat destruction continues. Finally, our research shows that the NPCS (net plant carbon sequestration) and PCS (plant carbon stock) in the wetland and the average values of methane flux, NPCS, PCS, and SOCS (sediment organic carbon stock) in the vegetated area have all decreased due to plant population declines.

Unexpected increases in soil carbon eventually fell in low rainfall farming systems

Understanding the drivers of soil organic carbon (SOC) change over time and confidence to predict changes in SOC are essential to the development and long-term viability of SOC trading schemes. This study investigated temporal changes in total SOC, total nitrogen (N), and carbon (C) fractions (particulate organic carbon - POC, resistant organic carbon - ROC and humus organic carbon - HOC) over a 16-year period for four contrasting farming systems in a low rainfall environment (424 mm) at Condobolin, Australia. The farming systems were 1) conventional tillage mixed farming (CT); 2) reduced tillage mixed farming (RT); 3) continuous cropping (CC); and 4) perennial pasture (PP). The SOC dynamics were also modelled using APSIM C and N modules, to determine the accuracy of this model. Results are presented in the context of land managers participating in Australian climate change mitigation schemes. There was an increase in SOC for all farming systems over the first 12 years (total organic C, TOC% at 0–10 cm increased from 1.33% to 1.77%), which was predominately in the POC% fraction (POC% at 0–10 cm increased from 0.14% to 0.5%). Between 2012 and 2015, there was a decrease in SOC back to starting levels (TOC = 1.22% POC = 0.12% at 0–10 cm) in all systems. The PP system had higher TOC%, POC% and HOC% levels on average and higher SOC stocks to 30 cm depth at the final measurement in 2015 (PP = 30.43 t C ha−1; cropping systems = 23.71 t C ha−1), compared to the other farming systems. There was a decrease in TN% over time in all farming systems except PP. The average C:N increased from 14.1 in 1999 to 19.7 in 2012, after which time the SOC levels decreased and C:N dropped back to 15.8. The temporal change in SOC was not able to be represented by the AusFarm model. There are three important conclusions for policy development: 1) monitoring temporal changes in SOC over 12 years did not indicate long-term sequestration, required to assure “permanence” in SOC trading (i.e. 25–100 years) due to the susceptibility of POC to degradation; 2) without monitoring SOC in reference land uses (e.g. CT cropping system as a control in this experiment) it is not possible to determine the net carbon sequestration, and therefore the true climate change mitigation value; and 3) modelling SOC using AusFarm/APSIM, does not fully represent the temporal dynamics of SOC in this low rainfall environment.

A spatial equilibrium analysis of using agricultural resources to produce biofuel

In order to alleviate the potential damage from climate change and fulfil the requirements contracted in the Paris Agreement (COP 24), China has promulgated the mandatory regulation on ethanol-blend gasoline to reduce current levels of CO2 emissions. Since large-scale bioenergy development involves various aspects such as feedstock selection (energy crops, crop wastes), technology alternatives (conventional and cellulosic ethanol, pyrolysis), government subsidy (land use, energy crop subsidy) and carbon trade mechanism, an analysis that integrates economic, environmental, and social effects is necessary to explore the optimal biofuel strategy and social effects. This study proposes a price endogenous, partial equilibrium mathematical programming model to investigate how the selection of bioenergy crops and bioenergy technologies influences the amount of net bioenergy production, carbon sequestration, government subsidies, and cultivation patterns. We show that the conjunctive use of agricultural wastes can be an effective addition to current biofuel production. The results also indicate that at high gasoline and emissions prices, more land used for the energy crop program results in a significant change in government expenditure. In addition, net emissions reduction and emissions offset efficiency can vary substantially when different bioenergy techniques are adopted.

Forest Carbon Resilience of Eastern Spruce Budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) Salvage Harvesting in the Northeastern United States

The next major eastern spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) outbreak is likely to begin impacting the forests of the northeastern US over the next few years. More than 4.7 million ha of forest and 94.8 million Mg of carbon in spruce (Picea spp.) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea) are at risk. Vegetation shifts in at-risk forest stands are likely to occur as a direct result of mortality caused by spruce budworm and through post-outbreak salvage harvest operations designed to minimize economic impact. Management interventions have short-term and long-term consequences for the terrestrial carbon budget and have significant implications for the role of the region’s forests as a natural climate solution. We used regional forest inventory data and 40-year growth and harvest simulations from the USDA Forest Service Forest Vegetation Simulator to quantify a range of forest carbon outcomes for alternative silvicultural interventions in the northeastern US. We performed a life cycle assessment of harvested wood products, including bioenergy, to evaluate the full greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions consequences of salvage and business as usual silvicultural scenarios across a range of stand risk profiles in the presence and absence of spruce budworm attack. Salvaging dead trees in the most at-risk stands tends to produce net emissions of carbon dioxide for at least ten years compared to a baseline where dead trees are left standing. In most scenarios, GHG emissions reached parity with the baseline by year 20. Changes in forest carbon stocks were the biggest driver of net emission differences between salvage and no salvage scenarios. A benchmark scenario without timber harvesting or the occurrence of a spruce budworm outbreak had the greatest net carbon sequestration profile after 40 years compared to all other scenarios. Salvaging trees killed by a severe and widespread insect infestation has potential negative short-term implications for GHG emissions, but long-term resilience of these climate benefits is possible in the absence of future outbreaks or subsequent harvest activities. The results provide guidance on silvicultural interventions to minimize the impact of spruce budworm on forest carbon.

中国亚热带-暖温带过渡区锐齿栎林净生态系统碳交换特征

在2017年1月1日-2017年12月31日期间，采用涡度相关法对位于亚热带-暖温带气候过渡区的河南宝天曼国家级自然保护区的65年生锐齿栎（Quercus aliena）天然次生林的碳通量进行了连续观测。结果表明：在观测期间，该森林生态系统在生长季5-10月份为碳汇，非生长季各月为碳源，净碳吸收量与释放量分别在7月和4月达到最大。净生态系统生产力为569.4 g C m^-2a^-1，生态系统呼吸为529.9 g C m^-2a^-1，总生态系统生产力为1099.3 g C m^-2a^-1。30min尺度上夜间净生态系统碳交换量与5cm深度土壤温度的关系可用指数方程表示（R²=0.21，P < 0.001），其温度敏感性系数（Temperature sensitivity coefficient，Q₁₀）为2.2。如果排除夜间通量观测的误差，处在海拔较高地区的夜间低温和非生长季的低温抑制了生态系统呼吸排放，可能导致全年生态系统呼吸量较低。在生长季5-10月份，各月的白天净生态系统碳交换量对光合有效辐射的响应符合直角双曲线模型，初始光能利用效率、平均最大光合速率和白天平均生态系统呼吸强度呈明显的季节变化，范围分别是0.06-0.12 μmol CO₂ μmol^-1 photon、0.44-1.47 mg CO₂ m^-2s^-1和0.07-0.19 mg CO₂ m^-2s^-1。夏季7、8月份，较高的饱和水汽压差对白天锐齿栎林的碳吸收有明显的抑制作用；生长季末期9月份较高的土壤含水量对白天锐齿栎林的碳吸收也产生了抑制作用，表明生长末期降水过多影响森林的碳吸收。;Oak forests comprise the largest forest area in central China and are the potential carbon sink, while we know little about the carbon dioxide flux of oak forests in the transitional zone from subtropics to warm temperate, China. Using an open-path eddy covariance system and micro-climate instruments, the CO₂ flux, photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), air temperature, soil temperature and precipitation were simultaneously observed in a natural oak (Quercus aliena) forest at Baotianman National Nature Reserve. Based on the data sets during January to December 2017, dynamic change of CO₂ flux at different temporal scales and its underlying mechanism were analyzed. The results indicated that the diurnal and seasonal variations of CO₂ fluxes showed an obvious single peak pattern. The oak forest ecosystem was a carbon sink during the growing season (May-October), while a carbon source occurred during the non-growing season. Net carbon sequestration and emissions peaked in July and April, respectively. Mean annual net ecosystem productivity (NEP), ecosystem respiration (Re) and gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) were 569.4, 529.9 and 1099.3 g C m^-2 year^-1, respectively. The relationship between net ecosystem carbon exchange (NEE) measured at half-hour interval during night and soil temperature at depth of 5 cm can be expressed by an exponential equation (R²=0.21, P < 0.001), with its temperature sensitivity coefficient (Q₁₀) of 2.2. A low temperature at night and in the non-growing season at high elevation resulted in lower Re throughout the year. The relationship between NEE and PAR at daytime could be well expressed by a rectangular hyperbolic equation during growing seasons. Monthly initial light use efficiency, maximum photosynthetic capacity and daytime Re were 0.06-0.12 μmol CO₂ μmol^-1 photon, 0.44-1.47 mg CO₂ m^-2s^-1 and 0.07-0.19 mg CO₂ m^-2s^-1, respectively. Both higher vapour pressure deficit in July and August and higher soil moisture at the end of the growing season inhibited carbon uptake of the oak forest, indicating a negative effect of increased precipitation on carbon sequestration at the end of the growing season.

Optimising grazing for livestock production and environmental benefits in Chinese grasslands

Overgrazing has extensively degraded Chinese grasslands. A reduction in stocking rate of 30–50% below the district averages is required to increase the profitability of livestock production and protect vital ecosystem services such as mitigation of greenhouse gases (GHG). Grazing experiments located in the desert steppe, typical steppe and alpine meadow verified the influence of stocking rate and grazing management on livestock production, grassland composition and associated ecosystem services. The desert steppe experiment found lower stocking rates of ~150 SE (where SE is sheep equivalent, which is a 50kg animal) grazing days ha–1 (1 SE ha–1 over 150 days) enhanced botanical composition, maintained profitable lamb growth rates and reduced GHG emissions intensity. The typical steppe experiment found moderate grazing pressure of ~400 SE grazing days ha–1 (4 SE ha–1 over 100 days) maintained higher lamb growth rates, an average herbage mass &amp;gt;0.5t DM ha–1 that maintained the content of Leymus chinensis above 70% and Artemisia frigida below 10% of the grassland and had the highest level of net carbon sequestration. In the alpine meadow experiment the district average stocking rate of ~16 SE ha–1 (1440 SE grazing days ha–1 over 90 days) was not too high, but extending grazing into the non-growing season had no benefit. The findings of these experiments highlight that many of the benefits to ecosystem services can be achieved with reduced stocking rates which also generate profitable levels of livestock production. In both the desert and typical steppe experiments, the results were optimal when the stocking rates were adjusted to maintain average herbage mass over summer above ~0.5t DM ha–1, whereas herbage mass was higher with the local, conservative stocking rates in the alpine meadow.

Net carbon ecosystem exchange during 24 years in the Sorø Beech Forest – relations to phenology and climate

The carbon sequestration of plants through photosynthesis is responsible for removal of a substantial amount of the man-made CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. In recent years this so-called land-sink has removed about 30% of the man-made emissions to the atmosphere, with forests being the most important sinks. The land-sink is, however, vulnerable to changes in the environment, such as the atmospheric composition, climate change, and extreme events like storms and droughts. It is therefore important to study the effects of such change on terrestrial ecosystems to provide the basis for predicting the future of the sink. We here report the results of continuous CO2 flux measurements over a Danish beech forest during the years 1996–2019. Over the years the forest acted as a sink of CO2 with a net carbon sequestration ranging from about zero to 400 g C m–2 yr−1. We found significant trends in net ecosystem exchange (NEE) (increasing in absolute terms with 15 g C m–2 yr2), gross ecosystem exchange (GEE) (increasing with 25 g C m–2 yr–2), and ecosystem respiration (RE) (increasing with 10 g C m–2 yr–2). A prolonged growing season explained 73% of the increase in NEE. The increasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere and a subsequent increase in photosynthetic capacity together with warming are the most likely main causes of the increased carbon uptake. The severe drought in the summer of 2018 resulted in a reduction of the annual NEE of 25%.

Prompt active restoration of peatlands substantially reduces climate impact

Restoration of peatlands after peat extraction could be a benefit to the climate system. However a multi-year ecosystem-scale assessment of net carbon (C) sequestration is needed. We investigate the climate impact of active peatland restoration (rewetting and revegetating) using a chronosequence of C gas exchange measurements across post-extraction Canadian peatlands. An atmospheric perturbation model computed the instantaneous change in radiative forcing of CO2 and CH4 emissions/uptake over 500 years. We found that using emission factors specific to an active restoration technique resulted in a radiative forcing reduction of 89% within 20 years compared to IPCC Tier 1 emission factors based on a wide range of rewetting activities. Immediate active restoration achieved a neutral climate impact (excluding C losses in the removed peat) about 155 years earlier than did a 20 year delay in restoration. A management plan that includes prompt active restoration is key to utilizing peatland restoration as a climate change mitigation strategy.

The age and species composition of mangrove forest directly influence the net primary productivity and carbon sequestration potential

Abstract Although mangroves inhabit only 0.7% of global coastal zone, but they have a significant contribution to the global carbon. Primary production by mangroves provides a substantial source of energy for aquatic food webs. Net primary productivity and carbon sequestration potential play a pivotal role in understanding the characteristics of the forest ecosystem. Therefore, in order to assess whether the age of mangrove forest and species composition has any influence on the net primary productivity and carbon sequestration potential; six plots of different age group (2, 7, 8, 12, 13 yrs and natural population), and mangrove species combinations were studied in Pichavaram mangrove forest, Tamil Nadu, India. Soil temperature, net canopy photosynthesis and forest functional index significantly varied between mangrove species and age. Regression analysis showed that the soil pH and bulk density positively influenced the carbon sequestration potential which was significant between age group. Higher age group (13yrs) and the natural site showed two-fold higher (21.52 ± 0.72 gC/m2/day) net canopy photosynthesis. Forest functional index, shoot Biomass, root Biomass, plant biomass, carbon biomass and CO2 equivalent showed significant variation with species or age having maximum value in natural plot. Net primary productivity was significant between mangrove species or age. However, carbon sequestration potential increased with the increase in age of plants. Maximum carbon sequestration potential was found in Xylocarpus mekongensis. The data obtained from the present study can be effectively used for drafting conservation and management policies for the fragile mangrove forest ecosystem.

Source or Sink? A comparison of Landfire- and FIA-based estimates of change in aboveground live tree carbon in California’s forests

Forests play a central role in addressing climate change, and accurate estimates of forest carbon are critical for the development of actions that reduce emissions from forests and that maximize sequestration by forests. Methodological challenges persist regarding how best to estimate forest carbon stocks and flux at regulatory-relevant scales. Using California, USA as a case study, we compare two approaches to stock-difference forest carbon estimation for aboveground live trees: one based on ground inventories and one on land cover classification of remotely-sensed data. Previous work using ground inventory data from the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program (FIA) showed net aboveground carbon (AGC) sequestration by live trees in California forests, while estimates using land cover classification from the Landscape Fire and Resource Management Planning Tools (Landfire) showed net reductions in live tree AGC over a similar time period. We examined the discrepancy by re-analyzing the FIA inventory data through the lens of a category-change analysis based on Landfire. This analysis showed more than 50% of the live tree AGC in fewer than 4% of Landfire-equivalent categories and that the overwhelming majority (>80%) of forest area did not change height category between measurement periods. Despite the lack of categorical change, the majority of FIA plots increased in both 95th percentile tree height and in live tree AGC. These findings suggest that an approach based on observing categorical changes risks undercounting AGC sequestration resulting from growth and thus overstating the relative importance of AGC reductions that result from disturbances. This would bias AGC flux estimates downward, leading us to validate the conclusion that live trees in California were a net sink of aboveground carbon in the decade ending in 2016. Our findings suggest an inventory-based or hybrid approach is preferable to methods that depend on categorical bins for estimating AGC in disturbance-prone forest ecosystems.

Evaluating the performance of bamboo forests managed for carbon sequestration and other co-benefits in Suichang and Anji, China

Using the Methodology for Bamboo Forest Management Projects for Carbon Sequestration and field data, we assess the performances of China Certified Emissions Reduction bamboo management projects for carbon sequestration in Suichang and Anji. We also explore the performance variation in response to differences in site condition and price and cost levels. Our results show that within a 30-year time period, the annual net present values (NPV) and carbon sequestration per hectare of the Suichang project are 3330.53 yuan (1 US dollar is about 6.7 Chinese yuan) and 7.19 tons, whereas they are 3895.53 yuan and 6.01 tons in Anji. Compared to the traditional bamboo forest management systems, large gains are found in bamboo timber and shoot revenues as well as the NPVs of carbon projects. Further, the NPV per unit area of the carbon sequestration project in Suichang, which has a poorer site condition, is lower than that in Anji, while Suichang's carbon sequestration revenue per unit area is higher than that of Anji. Variation in NPV can be caused by differences in site condition or price/cost factors.

Connected macroalgal‐sediment systems: blue carbon and food webs in the deep coastal ocean

AbstractMacroalgae drive the largest CO2 flux fixed globally by marine macrophytes. Most of the resulting biomass is exported through the coastal ocean as detritus and yet almost no field measurements have verified its potential net sequestration in marine sediments. This gap limits the scope for the inclusion of macroalgae within blue carbon schemes that support ocean carbon sequestration globally, and the understanding of the role their carbon plays within distal food webs. Here, we pursued three lines of evidence (eDNA sequencing, Bayesian Stable Isotope Mixing Modeling, and benthic‐pelagic process measurements) to generate needed, novel data addressing this gap. To this end, a 13‐month study was undertaken at a deep coastal sedimentary site in the English Channel, and the surrounding shoreline of Plymouth, UK. The eDNA sequencing indicated that detritus from most macroalgae in surrounding shores occurs within deep, coastal sediments, with detritus supply reflecting the seasonal ecology of individual species. Bayesian stable isotope mixing modeling [C and N] highlighted its vital role in supporting the deep coastal benthic food web (22–36% of diets), especially when other resources are seasonally low. The magnitude of detritus uptake within the food web and sediments varies seasonally, with an average net sedimentary organic macroalgal carbon sequestration of 8.75 g C·m−2·yr−1. The average net sequestration of particulate organic carbon in sediments is 58.74 g C·m−2·yr−1, the two rates corresponding to 4–5% and 26–37% of those associated with mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass beds, systems more readily identified as blue carbon habitats. These novel data provide important first estimates that help to contextualize the importance of macroalgal‐sedimentary connectivity for deep coastal food webs, and measured fluxes help constrain its role within global blue carbon that can support policy development. At a time when climate change mitigation is at the foreground of environmental policy development, embracing the full potential of the ocean in supporting climate regulation via CO2 sequestration is a necessity.

Assessment of crop yield, productivity and carbon sequestration in agroforestry systems in Central Himalaya, India

The present study deals with the assessment of crop composition, yield, biomass, net primary productivity (NPP), carbon stock and carbon sequestration in agri-silviculture (AS) and agri-horticulture (AH) agroforestry systems of Central Himalaya. An extensive field survey was carried out for the selection of AS (poplar + wheat) and AH (mango + wheat) systems practiced by the farmers in the region. In each agroforestry system, the wheat and tree species were assessed. Tree density was 400 and 278 individuals ha−1 in AS and AH systems while wheat density was 95 and 61 individuals m−2 in AS and AH systems, respectively. The yield and harvest index of wheat were 5096 kg ha−1 and 46% in AS system while 4009 kg ha−1 and 44.6% in AH system, respectively. In comparison with sole cropping system, the reduction in wheat yield was 19.7% in AS system and 36.8% in AH system. The biomass and net primary productivity of trees were 128.3 t ha−1 and 16.2 4 t ha−1 yr−1 in AS system while 171.95 t ha−1 and 14.4 t ha−1 yr−1 in AH system. However, the carbon sequestration of tree was 7.7 and 6.8 t C ha−1 yr−1 in AS and AH systems. The available nitrogen and phosphorus showed a significant correlation (p < 0.05) with crop yield. The yield of wheat, NPP, carbon sequestration and nutrients of soil was higher in AS (poplar + wheat) system than in AH (mango + wheat) system. Therefore, we suggested the farmers to adopt the AS system for better outputs in terms of production, carbon sequestration and sustainability of land use system.

Analysis of carbon sink effects for saline constructed wetlands vegetated with mangroves to treat mariculture wastewater and sewage

In this study, two saline mangrove artificial wetlands, Datang Saline Constructed Wetland (DSCW) created for treating mariculture wastewater and sewage, vegetated with Avicennia marina, and Mangrove Wetland Park (MWP) created for mangrove conservation, vegetated with Rhizophora stylosa, were selected for assessment of carbon sequestration and carbon budget based on measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and net primary productivities. The average GHG flux and net carbon sequestration flux as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 eq.) were measured. The results showed that the GHG flux emitted from DSCW and MWP were 2,128 and 2,148 g CO2 eq./m2-yr, respectively, while the flux of net sequestered carbon was 2,909 and 3,178 g CO2 eq./m2-yr, respectively, which achieved carbon budget values of -676 and -230 g CO2 eq./m2-yr, respectively, exhibiting carbon source effects. Some amounts of N2O, with a high global warming potential of 265, emitted from both artificial wetland systems might cause high GHG flux as CO2 eq. emitted from the wetland systems. It was concluded that both the nitrogenous contents and environmental conditions suitable for microbial production of N2O might be the main factors to change the wetland systems from carbon sinks to carbon sources.

Lipid content in overwintering Calanus finmarchicus across the Subpolar Eastern North Atlantic Ocean

AbstractThe boreal copepod Calanus finmarchicus accumulates lipid reserves during summer feeding in surface ocean waters, which enable it to stay at depth and survive famine during overwintering. Respiration of lipids during prolonged overwintering at ocean depths (&gt; 1000 m in some areas) has been shown to result in a net sequestration of carbon into the deep ocean: the so‐called “lipid pump.” Here, we provide a comprehensive synthesis of the geographic and vertical variations in lipid content of overwintering animals across the Subpolar Eastern North Atlantic and, on the basis of this, we revise the estimates of carbon sequestration. Wax ester content ranged from 40 to 190 μg individual−1 at &gt; 250 m depths, with highest concentrations in the coldest (&lt; 0°C) waters at 400–600 m depth at the slope east of Faroe Islands and east of Greenland and lowest in the warmer (&gt; 4°C) Irminger Sea and Rockall Basin. Our new analysis results in about 44% higher estimates of carbon sequestration at up to 11.5 g C m−2.

Greenhouse gas emissions and net carbon sequestration of the Beijing-Tianjin Sand Source Control Project in China

A methodology for carbon accounting and net mitigation estimation for national ecological restoration projects in China (CANM-EP) was developed, and this method simultaneously considered carbon sequestration, on-site greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ecosystem management, off-site GHG emissions and other changes in the ecosystem GHG budget. Based on this methodology, the annual variance and composition of carbon sequestration, GHG emissions and net carbon sequestration were analyzed for the first stage of the Beijing-Tianjin Sand Source Control Project (BTSSCP) (2001–2010) in the respective project provinces. The total carbon sequestration in the BTSSCP from 2001 to 2010 was 71.25–71.66 Tg C, and the additional GHG emissions from the BTSSCP were 7.28–7.50 Tg Ce, which counteracted 10.2–10.5% of the sequestered carbon. Among the different project measures in their corresponding ecosystems, the counteraction effect of grassland management in the grassland ecosystem was over 50%, which was much higher than that of afforestation and the conversion of cropland to forest. The net carbon sequestration in the BTSSCP was 63.75–64.38 Tg Ce, and the annual average was 6.38–6.44 Tg Ce·yr−1. The annual rate of net carbon mitigation for Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia was 1.16–1.17, 1.29–1.30, 1.06–1.07, 0.85–0.86 and 0.63–0.65 t Ce·ha−1·yr−1, respectively. The GHG emissions offset a minor part of the carbon sequestration in the BTSSCP. Therefore, the BTSSCP makes a relatively significant contribution to GHG mitigation in China.

Methodology for accounting the net mitigation of China's ecological restoration projects (CANM-EP)

The real emission mitigation by the ecological restoration projects depends upon the integrated effect of all greenhouse gas (GHG) budgets rather than the carbon sequestration alone. However, a comprehensive and robust methodology for estimating the relevant GHG budgets and net mitigation of China's ecological restoration projects is still urgently to await development. Based on the methods from IPCC and statistical data of the management practices under the projects, we constructed a methodology for carbon accounting and determining net mitigation for ecological restoration projects in China (CANM-EP). GHG emissions generated from different processes and practices of the projects were included in the CANM-EP, and by this methodology, carbon sequestration, GHG balance changes induced by ecological response, on-site and off-site GHG emissions could be estimated. Therefore, the CANM-EP provides comprehensive methods to estimate the whole GHG budgets as well as the net mitigation of China's ecological restoration projects.•The CANM-EP provides accounting methods for comprehensive processes and management practices under respective ecological restoration projects in China.•The CANM-EP could simultaneously estimate carbon sequestration and GHG emissions of the projects.•The CANM-EP indicates net carbon sequestration and net contribution of China's ecological restoration projects to climate change mitigation.