Innovative Research Reveals India's Vegetation Acts as Carbon Sink

The Role of Vegetation in Climate Change Mitigation
According to a recent study by specialists at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, India's green cover absorbed more carbon dioxide (CO2) than it emitted annually over the previous 10 years. The study highlights how climate extremes like drought impact carbon sequestration and how crucial vegetation is for reducing atmospheric carbon.

Through afforestation programs, forest conservation, and sustainable land management, the study highlights how important it is to maintain and enhance carbon sequestration in India's ecosystems.

Carbon Sequestration and Net Ecosystem Exchange
Plants absorb CO2 in the process of photosynthesis, using sunlight to convert carbon into energy. They release CO2 back into the atmosphere in the process of respiration. Net ecosystem exchange (NEE) measures the differential between the uptake and release of carbon. A negative NEE would indicate that vegetation is sequestering more carbon than it emits.

India's ecosystem has, as per the research, maintained a negative NEE, absorbing 380 to 530 million tonnes of carbon every year over the past decade. This is evidence that the country's forests and agricultural fields play an important role in carbon sequestration and global warming mitigation.

However, the study also warns that the rate of sequestration slows down during climate extremes such as droughts, which are becoming more common due to global warming.

Vegetation Types and Their Carbon Sequestration Contribution
The study analyzed the contribution of different vegetation types towards the uptake of carbon dioxide in India.

Evergreen forests, which are primarily found in the Western Ghats and Northeast India, are the most effective in the uptake of CO2 due to the fact that they photosynthesize throughout the year.
Central Indian deciduous forests, however, release more carbon than they absorb due to higher rates of respiration in certain seasons. These forests are carbon sources, releasing an estimated 210 million tonnes of carbon annually.
Croplands, while less efficient per unit area of carbon uptake than forests, occupy large areas of India and contribute significantly to overall CO2 removal from the atmosphere.
The findings highlight the disparity of carbon sequestration among ecosystems and emphasize the role of site-specific conservation practices. 

Impacts of Climate Extremes on Carbon Sequestration
Climate extremes, most notably droughts, reduce vegetation's ability to take up carbon, the study found. Droughts reduced water supplies, decreasing plant growth and hindering forests' and cropland's ability to capture CO2.

With climate change increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, the research highlights the vulnerability of India's carbon sink. With the trends continuing, the country can anticipate declining sequestration rates, which can undermine climate mitigation.

Innovative Approach in Carbon Sequestration Research
The IISER-Bhopal research team, in collaboration with international experts, adopted a technology-driven approach to quantify vegetation's carbon sequestration potential. The research integrated:

Satellite observations using the TROPOMI instrument on the Sentinel-2 satellite
High-resolution fluorescence tracking of vegetation activity
Advanced physics-based computer models to analyze ecosystem change
This technique provided more accurate and sensitive carbon flux estimates than traditional global methods using sparse in-situ carbon data.

The study also benefitted from knowledge from institutions such as:

Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Germany

University of Exeter, United Kingdom

National Remote Sensing Centre, India

Policy Implications and Future Research

The findings indicate the need for effective climate policy and improved management of ecosystems. The reducing rate of sequestration, particularly against climate extremes, necessitates:
Enhancement of afforestation and reforestation efforts

Enhancement of sustainable agricultural management systems to sequester carbon in croplands

Further investment in climate adaptation strategies and early warning systems to prevent droughts

Enhanced use of advanced monitoring technology to monitor in real-time the responses of ecosystems

It must be the subject of future studies to record long-term patterns of carbon sequestration and to determine how different land use patterns and conservation regimes can optimize India's potential as a carbon sink.

Conclusion
India's green cover is a significant source of carbon sequestration, with the nation absorbing significant amounts of CO2 annually. Climate extremes like droughts are, however, degrading this potential, requiring climate resilience and sustainable land management to be put in place.

By employing advanced satellite monitoring and global experience, researchers have been able to make valuable observations about the country's ecosystem responses to global warming. Having effective policies and conservation measures in place will be critical to ensuring that India's forests and croplands continue to be a good carbon sink in the years to come.

Source: IISER Bhopal, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry (Germany), University of Exeter (UK), National Remote Sensing Centre (India).