Vegetation as Carbon Sequester and Their Role in Climate Change Mitigation

Climate change is one of the most pressing global environmental challenges, influencing food production, natural ecosystems, freshwater supplies, and human health. Scientific assessments indicate that significant alterations in the Earth's climate system have occurred on both global and regional scales since the pre-industrial era. Human activities are mainly responsible for the observed warming trend of approximately 0.1°C per decade over the last 50 years. This review article explores the effects of climate change on vegetation, including habitat fragmentation, phenological shifts, invasive species proliferation, increased forest fires, pest outbreaks, and species extinctions. Additionally, it examines how vegetation can serve as a mitigator of climate change through carbon sequestration. Trees and plants can capture substantial amounts of carbon dioxide, a primary greenhouse gas, storing it in their biomass and roots. Furthermore, practices such as afforestation, reforestation, and agroforestry enhance carbon storage and contribute to climate change mitigation.