雅思阅读

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The concept of 'blue carbon' refers to carbon captured by the world's oceanic and coastal ecosystems, particularly mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses. These habitats sequester carbon at rates far exceeding those of terrestrial forests, storing it in biomass and sediment for millennia. However, their degradation releases stored carbon, contributing to climate change. Recent studies emphasize that protecting and restoring these ecosystems is not only a biodiversity priority but also a cost-effective climate mitigation strategy. Unlike terrestrial carbon offset projects, blue carbon initiatives often face unique challenges, such as measuring carbon fluxes in dynamic tidal environments and securing long-term tenure over coastal lands. Nevertheless, policy frameworks like the Paris Agreement increasingly recognize blue carbon's potential, urging nations to include these habitats in their climate commitments. This recognition marks a shift from viewing coastal ecosystems solely as buffers against storms to valuing them as critical carbon sinks.