Ecosystem Services and Carbon Sequestration in the Biosphere

Download or read book Ecosystem Services and Carbon Sequestration in the Biosphere written by Rattan Lal and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-05-29 with total page 467 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ecological functions and human wellbeing depend on ecosystem services. Among the ecosystem services are provisional (food, feed, fuel, fiber), regulating (carbon sequestration, waste recycling, water cleansing), cultural (aesthetic, recreational, spiritual), and supporting services (soil formation, photosynthesis, nutrient cycling). Many relationships of various degree exist among ecosystem services. Thus, land use and soil management to enhance biospheric carbon sinks for carbon sequestration requires a comprehensive understanding on the effects on ecosystem services. Payments for ecosystem services including carbon pricing must address the relationship between carbon sequestration and ecosystem services to minimize risks of overshoot, and promote sustainable use of land-based carbon sinks for human wellbeing.