496
J. A. Dar et al.
mediated by forest vegetation by means of evapotranspiration, thus resulting in atmospheric moisture (Aldrich and Imberger 2013; Debortoli et al. 2016; Ellison et al.
2017). Such moisture-laden clouds are circulated by winds across different regions
(Ellison et al. 2017). Forest trees and other vegetation are also known to intensify
rainfall by the emission of certain biological particles (fungal spores, bacterial cells,
pollen grains, etc.). Atmospheric moisture condenses when the air is well-saturated
with water and it condenses more readily if suitable surfaces are present, which are
provided by aerosol particles that are referred to as condensation nuclei (Sheil 2014;
Ellison et al. 2017). Furthermore, it has been reported that individual trees have the
capability to transpire hundreds of litres of water every single day using solar energy
and due to the presence of deep roots, trees can maintain their cooling effect even
during intense and long-lasting heat waves (Ellison et al. 2017). Forest trees also
contribute to increased water infiltration by means of its deep roots (Espeland and
Kettenring 2018).
Forests also help in limiting pollution levels by capturing the particulate pollutant
matter on the leaf surface (Chiabai et al. 2018). Since forests are rich in biodiversity, the presence of one species is known to influence the presence of several other
species via its ecological functions. It has been observed that some species facilitate other species to cope up with climate change. Synergistically (and also via the
‘domino effect’), highly biodiverse forest slows down the pace of global climate
change and exhibit increased resilience (Bruno et al. 2003; Espeland and Kettenring
2018). Forests also offer several other ecosystem services buffering the effects of
climate change by preventing water-based and wind-based erosion, shading the vegetation in the lower storeys, maintaining soil moisture by litter accumulation, etc.
(Espeland and Kettenring 2018). Plants are also known to reduce the speed, height
and the impact of cyclones and storms, which tend to causing flash flooding (Hu
et al. 2015; Espeland and Kettenring 2018).
6 Carbon Sequestration
Forests play a critical role in mitigating climate change because they act as huge
storehouses of carbon due to their unique ability to remove carbon continually from
the atmosphere (Goers et al. 2012). The ability of forests to act as sink for atmospheric
carbon dioxide has been widely recognized as a major mechanism of mitigating
climate change. Forests are estimated to store approximately 45% of the terrestrial
carbon and account for around 50% of the terrestrial net primary production (Bonan
2008; Anderegg et al. 2012; Pravalie 2018).
Plant photosynthesis is the primary mechanism by which forest ecosystems draw
in large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere (Waring and Running 2007; Lorenz
and Lal 2010). Trees absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide and fix it in their biomass
of stems, leaves, branches and roots. When the branches and leaves fall as litter and
decompose, some of the stored carbon gets released into the atmosphere through
respiration, while another part seeps into the soil. Therefore, the net carbon balance,
J. A. Dar et al.
mediated by forest vegetation by means of evapotranspiration, thus resulting in atmospheric moisture (Aldrich and Imberger 2013; Debortoli et al. 2016; Ellison et al.
2017). Such moisture-laden clouds are circulated by winds across different regions
(Ellison et al. 2017). Forest trees and other vegetation are also known to intensify
rainfall by the emission of certain biological particles (fungal spores, bacterial cells,
pollen grains, etc.). Atmospheric moisture condenses when the air is well-saturated
with water and it condenses more readily if suitable surfaces are present, which are
provided by aerosol particles that are referred to as condensation nuclei (Sheil 2014;
Ellison et al. 2017). Furthermore, it has been reported that individual trees have the
capability to transpire hundreds of litres of water every single day using solar energy
and due to the presence of deep roots, trees can maintain their cooling effect even
during intense and long-lasting heat waves (Ellison et al. 2017). Forest trees also
contribute to increased water infiltration by means of its deep roots (Espeland and
Kettenring 2018).
Forests also help in limiting pollution levels by capturing the particulate pollutant
matter on the leaf surface (Chiabai et al. 2018). Since forests are rich in biodiversity, the presence of one species is known to influence the presence of several other
species via its ecological functions. It has been observed that some species facilitate other species to cope up with climate change. Synergistically (and also via the
‘domino effect’), highly biodiverse forest slows down the pace of global climate
change and exhibit increased resilience (Bruno et al. 2003; Espeland and Kettenring
2018). Forests also offer several other ecosystem services buffering the effects of
climate change by preventing water-based and wind-based erosion, shading the vegetation in the lower storeys, maintaining soil moisture by litter accumulation, etc.
(Espeland and Kettenring 2018). Plants are also known to reduce the speed, height
and the impact of cyclones and storms, which tend to causing flash flooding (Hu
et al. 2015; Espeland and Kettenring 2018).
6 Carbon Sequestration
Forests play a critical role in mitigating climate change because they act as huge
storehouses of carbon due to their unique ability to remove carbon continually from
the atmosphere (Goers et al. 2012). The ability of forests to act as sink for atmospheric
carbon dioxide has been widely recognized as a major mechanism of mitigating
climate change. Forests are estimated to store approximately 45% of the terrestrial
carbon and account for around 50% of the terrestrial net primary production (Bonan
2008; Anderegg et al. 2012; Pravalie 2018).
Plant photosynthesis is the primary mechanism by which forest ecosystems draw
in large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere (Waring and Running 2007; Lorenz
and Lal 2010). Trees absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide and fix it in their biomass
of stems, leaves, branches and roots. When the branches and leaves fall as litter and
decompose, some of the stored carbon gets released into the atmosphere through
respiration, while another part seeps into the soil. Therefore, the net carbon balance,