Carbon Sequestration through Ecosystem Restoration: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Carbon sequestration through ecosystem restoration has emerged as a critical strategy for mitigating climatechange while simultaneously enhancing biodiversity, soil health, and ecosystem resilience. Degraded forests,wetlands, grasslands, mangroves, and agricultural landscapes possess substantial potential to captureand store atmospheric carbon through biological and geochemical processes. This review examines themechanisms of carbon sequestration in restored ecosystems, evaluates restoration opportunities acrossmajor biomes, and discusses the ecological, economic, and policy challenges associated with large-scaleimplementation. Forest restoration remains one of the most effective terrestrial approaches for long-termcarbon storage, whereas wetlands and mangroves provide exceptionally high carbon accumulation rates due to reduced decomposition under waterlogged conditions. Grassland and agroecosystem restoration con-tribute significantly through soil organic carbon enhancement. Despite these opportunities, uncertainties in carbon accounting, land-use competition, climate variability, restoration costs, and permanence of storedcarbon remain major constraints. Advances in remote sensing, ecological modeling, and carbon marketmechanisms are improving monitoring and financial feasibility of restoration projects. Integrating ecosystemrestoration with biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management, and community participation isessential for maximizing climate mitigation benefits while supporting socioeconomic development.