Exploring the Potentials of Halophytes in Addressing Climate Change-Related Issues: A Synthesis of Their Biological, Environmental, and Socioeconomic Aspects

Abdul Hameed (), Sadiq Hussain, Aysha Rasheed, Muhammad Zaheer Ahmed and Sahar Abbas
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Abdul Hameed: Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Khan Insitute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
Sadiq Hussain: Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Khan Insitute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
Aysha Rasheed: Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Khan Insitute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
Muhammad Zaheer Ahmed: Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Khan Insitute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
Sahar Abbas: Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Khan Insitute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan

World, 2024, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-22

Abstract: Halophytes are naturally salt-tolerant plants with immense potential to become alternate crops for saline lands. While their economic benefits have gained increasing attention, often, the roles of halophytes in addressing different climate change-related issues are overlooked. Halophytes can be a renewable resource for clean ‘carbon-neutral’ energy by serving as biofuel or biogas feedstock, help in the sequestration of rising CO 2 as well as the phytoremediation of various pollutants, can be a good source of food and fodder thereby help in achieving food security in arid/saline areas, can help in protection and biodiversity conservation in various ecosystems, and can provide livelihood to poor local communities inhabiting barren lands. This review also attempts to highlight various usages of halophytes in connection with a global change perspective. However, there are still many challenges such as economic viability, customer preferences, environmental impacts, and scale-up challenges, which need further research, innovation, effective policies, and collaboration. In general, this review provides a synthesis of various biological, environmental, and socioeconomic aspects of halophytes to fully exploit the potential of halophytes for human welfare and combating global climate changes.

Keywords: biofuel; carbon sequestration; climate change; food security; halophyte; salinity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G15 G17 G18 L21 L22 L25 L26 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 R51 R52 R58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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