Forests act as carbon sinks by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis. Trees and other vegetation absorb carbon dioxide from the air and convert it into organic carbon, which is stored in their biomass and soil. This carbon is then held in the forest ecosystem for years or even centuries, effectively removing it from the atmosphere.
Additionally, forests play an important role in regulating the carbon cycle by cycling carbon between the atmosphere, plants, and soil. Forests help to maintain a balance between carbon uptake through photosynthesis and carbon release through respiration, decomposition, and disturbance.
Forests also act as a buffer against climate change, as they absorb and store more carbon than they release. However, deforestation and forest degradation can result in the release of large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Therefore, protecting and restoring forests is an important strategy for mitigating climate change.
Discuss how forests act as carbon sinks.
1 answer