Protecting irrecoverable carbon in Earth’s ecosystems

Allie Goldstein (), Will R. Turner, Seth A. Spawn, Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira, Susan Cook-Patton, Joseph Fargione, Holly K. Gibbs, Bronson Griscom, Jennifer H. Hewson, Jennifer F. Howard, Juan Carlos Ledezma, Susan Page, Lian Pin Koh, Johan Rockström, Jonathan Sanderman and David G. Hole
Additional contact information
Allie Goldstein: Conservation International
Will R. Turner: Conservation International
Seth A. Spawn: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira: Conservation Ecology Center
Susan Cook-Patton: The Nature Conservancy
Joseph Fargione: The Nature Conservancy
Holly K. Gibbs: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Bronson Griscom: Conservation International
Jennifer H. Hewson: Conservation International
Jennifer F. Howard: Conservation International
Juan Carlos Ledezma: Conservation International Bolivia
Susan Page: University of Leicester
Lian Pin Koh: National University of Singapore
Johan Rockström: Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Jonathan Sanderman: Woods Hole Research Center
David G. Hole: Conservation International

Nature Climate Change, 2020, vol. 10, issue 4, 287-295

Abstract: Abstract Avoiding catastrophic climate change requires rapid decarbonization and improved ecosystem stewardship. To achieve the latter, ecosystems should be prioritized by responsiveness to direct, localized action and the magnitude and recoverability of their carbon stores. Here, we show that a range of ecosystems contain ‘irrecoverable carbon’ that is vulnerable to release upon land use conversion and, once lost, is not recoverable on timescales relevant to avoiding dangerous climate impacts. Globally, ecosystems highly affected by human land-use decisions contain at least 260 Gt of irrecoverable carbon, with particularly high densities in peatlands, mangroves, old-growth forests and marshes. To achieve climate goals, we must safeguard these irrecoverable carbon pools through an expanded set of policy and finance strategies.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0738-8

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