The Role of Plants in Carbon Sequestration: Mechanisms, Ecosystem Contributions, and Their Impact on Mitigating Climate Change

Md Ataur Rahman¹*, Tahnia Basher²

This study showed the distinct carbon sequestration capacities across ecosystems, emphasizing management strategies critical for enhancing natural carbon sinks against climate change.

Abstract

Background: Carbon sequestration is essential in mitigating climate change, with plants capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) through photosynthesis. Different ecosystems have distinct carbon storage capabilities, yet these variations and the factors influencing them require further investigation. Methods: This study synthesizes literature on carbon sequestration mechanisms in forests, grasslands, and marine vegetation, examining each ecosystem's storage potential and environmental factors affecting sequestration efficiency. Field surveys, soil sampling, and remote sensing data-informed ecosystem-specific analyses of carbon storage in biomass, soil organic carbon (SOC), and sediments. Results: Forest ecosystems, especially tropical forests, are the most effective terrestrial carbon sinks, storing significant carbon in biomass. Grasslands, while having less above-ground biomass, store up to 90% of their carbon in soil, making them resilient to disturbances. Marine vegetation, such as mangroves and seagrasses, excels in "blue carbon" sequestration due to sediment storage. Agricultural lands have sequestration potential through SOC, though intensive practices often reduce this capability. Conclusion: Plants' carbon sequestration potential varies across ecosystems and is influenced by environmental stressors and human activities. Effective management practices, such as reforestation, agroforestry, and coastal habitat restoration, are crucial to enhancing carbon sinks. Strengthening natural carbon sequestration through sustainable policies and international cooperation is vital for climate mitigation and ecosystem resilience.

Keywords: Carbon sequestration, Climate change mitigation, Ecosystem carbon sinks, Soil organic carbon, blue carbon

References

Anderegg, W. R. L., et al. (2015). "Tree mortality from drought, insects, and their interactions in a changing climate." New Phytologist, 208(3), 674-683.

Angelsen, A. (2009). "REDD+: What should come next?" Science, 326(5952), 649-650.

Baccini, A., et al. (2012). "Estimated carbon dioxide emissions from tropical deforestation improved by carbon-density maps." Nature Climate Change, 2(3), 182-185.

 Bonan, G. B. (2008). "Forests and climate change: forcings, feedbacks, and the climate benefits of forests." Science, 320(5882), 1444-1449.

Chazdon, R. L. (2008). "Beyond deforestation: Restoring forests and ecosystem services on degraded lands." Science, 320(5882), 1458-1460.

Conant, R. T., et al. (2017). "Grassland management impacts on soil carbon stocks: A new synthesis." Ecological Applications, 27(2), 662-668.

Donato, D. C., et al. (2011). "Mangroves among the most carbon-rich forests in the tropics." Nature Geoscience, 4(5), 293-297.

 Duarte, C. M., et al. (2005). "Major role of marine vegetation on the oceanic carbon cycle." Biogeosciences, 2(1), 1-8.

Duarte, C. M., et al. (2020). "Rebuilding marine life." Nature, 580(7801), 39-51.

Fourqurean, J. W., et al. (2012). "Seagrass ecosystems as a globally significant carbon stock." Nature Geoscience, 5(7), 505-509.

Ghimire, B., et al. (2012). "Fire-induced changes in soil organic carbon pools and fluxes in boreal forests." Ecological Monographs, 82(2), 297-313.

Griscom, B. W., et al. (2017). "Natural climate solutions." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114(44), 11645-11650.

Hicke, J. A., et al. (2013). "Carbon cycling in the world's forests: the role of forest disturbances and forest age." Nature Climate Change, 3(10), 854-859.

Le Quéré, C., et al. (2018). Global carbon budget 2018. Earth System Science Data, 10(4), 2141-2194.

Luyssaert, S., et al. (2008). Old-growth forests as global carbon sinks. Nature, 455(7210), 213-215.

Malhi, Y., et al. (2002). An international network to monitor the structure, composition, and dynamics of Amazonian forests (RAINFOR). Journal of Vegetation Science, 13*(3), 439-450.

Pan, Y., et al. (2011). A large and persistent carbon sink in the world's forests. Science, 333(6045), 988-993.

Rahman, M. A. (2019). Assessing The Impact of Climate Change on Plant Life: Understanding Adaptations, Stress Responses, And Ecosystem Alterations in A Warming World. Australian Herbal Insight, 2(1), 1–5.

Saatchi, S. S., et al. (2011). Benchmark map of forest carbon stocks in tropical regions across three continents. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(24), 9899-9904.

Saad, A. (2019). Interconnected Flora: Understanding Plant Communication and Behavior Through Chemical Signaling, Electrical Signaling, And Root Network Interactions in Ecosystems. Australian Herbal Insight, 2(1), 1–5.

Seddon, N., et al. (2019). Understanding the value and limits of nature-based solutions to climate change and other global challenges. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 375*(1794), 20190120.

 Silver, W. L., et al. (2000). The potential for soil carbon sequestration through reforestation of abandoned tropical agricultural and pasture lands. Restoration Ecology, 8(4), 394-407.

Smith, P., et al. (2014). Agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU). In: Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Waring, R. H., & Running, S. W. (2007). Forest ecosystems: Analysis at multiple scales. Elsevier Science.

 Watson, R. T., et al. (2000). Land use, land-use change and forestry: A special report of the IPCC. Cambridge University Press.

Zhang, Y., et al. (2018). Effects of grassland restoration programs on ecosystem carbon balance in China. Journal of Environmental Management, 206, 1012-1019.

Zomer, R. J., et al. (2016). Global tree cover and biomass carbon on agricultural land: The contribution of agroforestry to global and national carbon budgets. Scientific Reports, 6(1), 29987.