How ecological restoration alters ecosystem services: an analysis of carbon sequestration in China's Loess Plateau

• DOI: 10.1038/srep02846
• Publication Date: 2013-10-03T09:03:02Z
• Authors: Xiaoming Feng; Bojie Fu; Nan Lu; Yuan Zeng; Bingfang Wu
• Keywords: Carbon sink; Terrestrial ecosystem; Restoration Ecology

Restoring disturbed and over-exploited ecosystems is important to mitigate human pressures on natural ecosystems. China has launched an ambitious national ecosystem restoration program called Grain Green Program (GTGP) over the last decade. By using remote sensing techniques modelling, we quantitatively evaluated changes in carbon sequestration since China's GTGP during period of 2000–2008. It was found NPP NEP this region had steadily increased after initiative a total 96.1 Tg additional been sequestered that period. Changes soil storage were lagged behind thus insignificant period, but expected follow coming decades. As result, Loess Plateau shifted from net source 2000 sink 2008. The efficiency constrained by precipitation appropriate choices types (trees, shrubs grasses) accordance local climate are critical for achieving best benefit/cost efficiency.