Assessment of the potential for carbon sink enhancement in the overlapping ecological project areas of China

Ecological engineering can significantly improve ecosystem carbon sequestration. However, few studies have projected the carbon sink trends in regions where ecological engineering projects overlap and have not considered the different climate change conditions and land use scenarios. Using the ensem...

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Main Authors: Xiaojuan Xu, Fusheng Jiao, Dayi Lin, Jie Qiu, Changxin Zou, Kun Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1482077/full
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author Xiaojuan Xu
Fusheng Jiao
Dayi Lin
Jie Qiu
Changxin Zou
Kun Zhang
author_facet Xiaojuan Xu
Fusheng Jiao
Dayi Lin
Jie Qiu
Changxin Zou
Kun Zhang
author_sort Xiaojuan Xu
collection DOAJ
description Ecological engineering can significantly improve ecosystem carbon sequestration. However, few studies have projected the carbon sink trends in regions where ecological engineering projects overlap and have not considered the different climate change conditions and land use scenarios. Using the ensemble empirical mode decomposition method and machine learning algorithms (enhanced boosted regression trees), the aims of this study to elucidate the stability of carbon sinks and their driving mechanisms in areas where ecological projects overlap and to predict the potential enhancement in carbon sinks under varying climate and human activity scenarios. The findings revealed that: (1) The carbon sinks clearly and steadily increased in regions where five ecological projects were implemented from 1982 to 2019. In contrast, the carbon sinks did not significantly increase in regions with two or three ecological projects. (2) As the number of ecological projects increased, the impact of human activities on the carbon sinks gradually decreased. In eastern China, rapid economic development and significant interference from human activities hindered the growth of carbon sinks. In contrast, in western China, the warming and humidification trend of the climate, large-scale afforestation, and other ecological projects have significantly improved carbon sinks. (3) The regions with five overlapping ecological projects exhibited the greatest enhancement and stability of carbon sinks under different scenarios. Compared with the SSP585 scenario, under the SSP126 scenario, the carbon sinks increased, and their stability was greater. Achieving carbon neutrality requires major ecological projects to account for the limitations imposed by climatic conditions. Instead of isolated projects or the implementation of single restoration measures, a comprehensive approach that uses the synergistic effects of combined ecological strategies is recommended.
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spelling doaj-art-9917a495cd494e789640b5ea295b5db12025-08-20T02:22:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2024-11-011510.3389/fpls.2024.14820771482077Assessment of the potential for carbon sink enhancement in the overlapping ecological project areas of ChinaXiaojuan Xu0Fusheng Jiao1Dayi Lin2Jie Qiu3Changxin Zou4Kun Zhang5Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environmental of the People's Republic of China, Nanjing, ChinaSchool of Geography, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environmental of the People's Republic of China, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environmental of the People's Republic of China, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environmental of the People's Republic of China, Nanjing, ChinaNanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environmental of the People's Republic of China, Nanjing, ChinaEcological engineering can significantly improve ecosystem carbon sequestration. However, few studies have projected the carbon sink trends in regions where ecological engineering projects overlap and have not considered the different climate change conditions and land use scenarios. Using the ensemble empirical mode decomposition method and machine learning algorithms (enhanced boosted regression trees), the aims of this study to elucidate the stability of carbon sinks and their driving mechanisms in areas where ecological projects overlap and to predict the potential enhancement in carbon sinks under varying climate and human activity scenarios. The findings revealed that: (1) The carbon sinks clearly and steadily increased in regions where five ecological projects were implemented from 1982 to 2019. In contrast, the carbon sinks did not significantly increase in regions with two or three ecological projects. (2) As the number of ecological projects increased, the impact of human activities on the carbon sinks gradually decreased. In eastern China, rapid economic development and significant interference from human activities hindered the growth of carbon sinks. In contrast, in western China, the warming and humidification trend of the climate, large-scale afforestation, and other ecological projects have significantly improved carbon sinks. (3) The regions with five overlapping ecological projects exhibited the greatest enhancement and stability of carbon sinks under different scenarios. Compared with the SSP585 scenario, under the SSP126 scenario, the carbon sinks increased, and their stability was greater. Achieving carbon neutrality requires major ecological projects to account for the limitations imposed by climatic conditions. Instead of isolated projects or the implementation of single restoration measures, a comprehensive approach that uses the synergistic effects of combined ecological strategies is recommended.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1482077/fullcarbon sinkspredictionclimate changestabilityecological projects
spellingShingle Xiaojuan Xu
Fusheng Jiao
Dayi Lin
Jie Qiu
Changxin Zou
Kun Zhang
Assessment of the potential for carbon sink enhancement in the overlapping ecological project areas of China
Frontiers in Plant Science
carbon sinks
prediction
climate change
stability
ecological projects
title Assessment of the potential for carbon sink enhancement in the overlapping ecological project areas of China
title_full Assessment of the potential for carbon sink enhancement in the overlapping ecological project areas of China
title_fullStr Assessment of the potential for carbon sink enhancement in the overlapping ecological project areas of China
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of the potential for carbon sink enhancement in the overlapping ecological project areas of China
title_short Assessment of the potential for carbon sink enhancement in the overlapping ecological project areas of China
title_sort assessment of the potential for carbon sink enhancement in the overlapping ecological project areas of china
topic carbon sinks
prediction
climate change
stability
ecological projects
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1482077/full
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