ABSTRACT
Climate change mitigation actions not only include reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector through renewable energy policies or encouraging energy-efficient practices, but also from biological mitigation of greenhouse gases which can occur through conservation of existing carbon pools and sequestration by increasing the size of the carbon pools. In the context of climate change mitigation, nature-based solutions are referred to as ecosystem-based mitigation. There are a variety of soil conservation and management options available to mitigate the loss of carbon, which in turn improves crop yield, increases economic return, and enhances soil fertility. Carbon sequestration by forests is relatively inexpensive in addressing climate change immediately with a variety of strategies available to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions including reforestation and afforestation. Mitigation approaches in grassland ecosystems include reducing grazing intensity, regulating fire frequency, avoiding conversion to croplands, and restoring degraded grasslands. Restoration of degraded peatlands to avoid further peat decomposition and reduce fire risk is an important mitigation option. The coastal and marine environment contains large carbon sinks including mangroves and seagrasses and ecosystem-based mitigation measures can be taken to restore and protect their carbon sequestration and storage functions.
