Carbon sink refers to the process, activity or mechanism of absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through afforestation, vegetation restoration and other measures, thereby reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The carbon sequestration function of wetlands is mainly achieved through the capture and sequestration of carbon by wetland soils (sediments) and plants, and can store carbon for a longer period of time than other ecosystems when the climate is stable and there is no human disturbance. Plants in wetlands absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and synthesize it into their own organic matter, forming a plant carbon pool. The residues after plant death can be deposited and buried in the soil, and after long-term humification, it becomes soil organic carbon, which is the main reason for the carbon sequestration of wetlands.
In addition, the carbon content in wetlands is about 20% of that in the soil of the earth's ecosystem, and the carbon content is relatively large, which has a strong purification function. According to the China Wetlands Research Report released by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2022, the total aboveground carbon sequestration of herbaceous swamp vegetation in China reached 22.2 million tons, and the total soil organic carbon storage of swamp wetlands reached 9.9 billion tons. Wetlands can participate in the carbon cycle of the ecosystem through their carbon sequestration and complete the purification of air and water resources.
For more information about "double carbon", please pay attention to: Linhuan double carbon.
Hotspot Engine Program