Weiskopf, S.R., Isbell, F., Arce-Plata, M.I. et al. Biodiversity loss reduces global terrestrial carbon storage. Nat Commun 15, 4354 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47872-7
Summary:
Weiskopf and colleagues found that biodiversity loss significantly impacts the global carbon cycle by reducing terrestrial carbon storage (e.g., C contained in plant biomass and soil). This study utilized the BILBI model, which incorporates land use and climate change to understand impacts on species composition. This alongside biodiversity-biomass relationships were used to connect plant biodiversity loss with changes in biomass and carbon storage. The findings indicate that plant biodiversity loss could result in carbon losses of 7.44–103.14 PgC under a global sustainability scenario or 10.87-145.95 PgC, under a fossil-fuel development scenario. This suggests a significant reduction in potential ecosystem-level carbon storage due to declining plant richness. High-biodiversity regions, such as tropical forests, are especially at risk of these carbon losses that accompany reductions in plant diversity. This study reveals a positive feedback loop between plant biodiversity, carbon storage, and climate change, where biodiversity loss decreases the carbon storage capacity of ecosystems, which further exacerbates climate change, thus driving more biodiversity and carbon storage losses. The authors emphasize the need for integrating biodiversity conservation into climate mitigation strategies to maximize carbon storage and optimize ecosystem functioning.
Take-home Points:
- Ecosystem carbon storage is closely linked to biodiversity, yet the role of biodiversity is not often included in models to understand future carbon storage.
- Under future climate and land-use scenarios, plant biodiversity loss may result in a global carbon loss ranging from 7.44-103.14 PgC in a sustainable development scenario to 10.87-145.95 PgC in a fossil-fuel development scenario.
- There is a positive feedback loop where greater biodiversity loss decreases carbon storage and accelerates climate change, which then leads to further biodiversity loss and additional carbon storage losses.
Management Implications:
- Protecting and restoring biodiversity-rich ecosystems is important for enhancing carbon storage and mitigating climate change.
- Tropical regions, like the Amazon, central Africa, and Southeast Asia, face the highest potential biodiversity-driven carbon losses, making them a priority for conservation.
- Biodiversity goals should be integrated into climate action plans to mitigate climate change and protect ecosystem functioning. This could include incorporating diverse plantings in reforestation and restoration initiatives.