- A forest carbon sink refers to forests’ ability to absorb and store more carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere than they release, thereby helping mitigate climate change.
- Forests act as natural carbon sinks by sequestering carbon in biomass (trees, roots, leaves), dead organic matter, and forest soils.
- Mechanism
- Through photosynthesis, trees absorb CO₂ and convert it into organic carbon.
- Carbon is stored in:
- Above-ground biomass (trunks, branches, leaves)
- Below-ground biomass (roots)
- Forest litter and deadwood
- Soil organic carbon
- Disturbances like deforestation, forest fires, or degradation can turn forests into carbon sources instead of sinks.
- Types of forest carbon sinks
- Natural forests: Old-growth and primary forests with long-term carbon storage capacity.
- Plantation forests: Fast-growing species that absorb carbon rapidly but may store less carbon over the long term.
- Agroforestry systems: Combine trees with crops or livestock, contributing to carbon sequestration.
- Global and national relevance
- Forests absorb roughly one-third of global anthropogenic CO₂ emissions annually.
- Under the Paris Agreement, countries use forest carbon sinks as part of their climate mitigation strategies.
- India’s NDC target includes creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through increased forest and tree cover.
- Policy and governance in India
- Linked to the National Forest Policy, Green India Mission, CAMPA, and afforestation programmes.
- Forest carbon accounting is reported under India’s Biennial Update Reports (BURs) and National Communications to the UNFCCC.
- Monitoring uses satellite data, forest inventories, and carbon stock assessments.
- Importance
- Helps slow global warming and stabilise climate systems.
- Supports biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services.
- Enhances soil fertility, water regulation, and livelihood opportunities for forest-dependent communities.
- Challenges
- Deforestation, forest degradation, and land-use change.
- Climate-induced stresses such as droughts, pests, and forest fires.
- Difficulties in accurate measurement, reporting, and verification of carbon stocks.
- Way forward
- Protect existing natural forests and prevent degradation.
- Promote native-species afforestation and ecological restoration.
- Integrate forest carbon goals with community participation and sustainable forest management.
