Desert ecosystems emerge as frontiers for carbon sequestration and climate action

A new paper published in Biological Reviews has revealed the potential of desert ecosystems in the global fight against climate change. The review, led by Prof. Zeng Fanjiang from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, synthesizes evidence showing that deserts can function as vital carbon sinks through innovative management and technology. The review challenges the traditional view of deserts as barren wastelands. Instead, it presents them as dynamic environments where unique biological and geological processes can capture and store atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO?). “Our work fundamentally redefines the role of deserts in…