Human-Impacted Natural Ecosystems Drive Climate Warming

Abstract

Current greenhouse gas budgets do not account for most indirect anthropogenic impacts. In this perspective, we call for attention to greenhouse gas fluxes from human-impacted natural ecosystems and their mitigation measures. The article highlights the increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from natural ecosystems, including CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O. These emissions are becoming significant drivers of global warming, surpassing those from fossil fuel combustion. We introduce the concept of “anthro-natural emissions” on the example of peatlands, referring to emissions from natural ecosystems indirectly impacted by human activities. The concept helps bridge the gap between natural and anthropogenic impacts, providing a more comprehensive understanding of GHG emissions. Anthro-natural emissions are expected to rise as climate warming progresses, contributing to the overall GHG balance. Peatlands, which store approximately 30% of the world's soil carbon, are under increasing pressure from climate warming and human activities. The article emphasizes the importance of addressing both natural and human-impacted ecosystems to mitigate climate change effectively. Increasingly frequent droughts are identified as a major threat to global terrestrial ecosystems, particularly wetlands. The drying of wetlands challenges their capacity to act as carbon sinks and alters their roles in climate regulation. The insights provided are essential for developing effective adaptation strategies relying on soil carbon sequestration as a long-term solution against climate warming. According to our study, the proportion of natural, anthro-natural, and directly disturbed peatlands is approximately 40–20–40, and the ratio is increasing towards anthro-natural peatlands. We highlight a change of paradigm for assessing the importance of different GHG sources. Further, it highlights the need for conservation and restoration of peatlands and renaturalization of forest ecosystems.