Valuing the functionality of tropical ecosystems beyond carbon

Jesús Aguirre-Gutiérrez et al. | SCIENCE & SOCIETY | 2023 | Peer Reviewed | Review | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2023.08.012

Abstract

Land-based carbon sequestration projects, such as tree planting, are a prominent strategy to offset carbon emissions. However, we risk reducing natural ecosystems to one metric – carbon. Emphasis on restoring ecosystems to balance ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation, and carbon sequestration is a more appropriate strategy to protect their functioning.