Environment & We

An International Journal of Science & Technology

 

ISSN: 0975-7112 (Print)

 

ISSN: 0975-7120 (Online)

 

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Prabhakar et al., 2026 / Environ. We Int. J. Sci. Tech. 21, 15-34

https://doi.org/10.70497/ewijst.2026.0102

 

 

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© Society for Environment and Development, (India)

 

 

Assessment of the Carbon Sequestration Potential of Indian Wetlands: An Overview

 

Himani Prabhakar1,2, K. S. Kanwal2,*, Ashutosh Pathak3, Vijay Sharma1

1Forest Research Institute (Deemed University) - 248006 Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

2G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Kosi-Katarmal - 263643 Almora, Uttarakhand, India

3Systematic Forest Botany Division, ICFRE-Forest Research Institute - 248006 Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

*Email- kskanwal03@gmail.com

DOI:10.70497/ewijst.2026.0102

 

 

Keywords

 

Carbon pool;

Carbon stock;

Soil organic carbon;

Tree biomass carbon;

Wetland ecosystem

 

 

Abstract

 

Wetlands are very dynamic ecosystem where water meets land, supporting incredibly productive and biodiverse ecosystems such as marshes, swamps, lakes, rivers, deltas, peatlands, etc., either natural or man-made.Recognized globally as critical natural capital, wetlands sustain exceptional biodiversity and deliver a broad spectrum of ecosystem services, most notably carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. This review systematically evaluates the carbon stocks and sequestration potential of diverse wetland ecosystems across India. The total ecosystem carbon stock of Indian wetlands ranges from 4.06 Mg ha−1 to 335.33 t ha−1. Within these ecosystems, soil and plant biomass serve as the major reservoirs for carbon sequestration, while in water bodies the carbon concentration ranges from 3.46 to 17.77 mg L−1. Across soil profiles, surface layer (0–15 cm depth) consistently exhibit the highest carbon sequestration capacity. Despite the well-documented significance of Indian wetlands in supporting ecosystem services and mitigating climate change, critical knowledge gaps persist, particularly in long-term monitoring frameworks, standardized measurement methodologies, and systematic assessment of carbon fluxes potentail. Addressing these gaps is essential for strengthening national carbon accounting and for informing evidence-based conservation and climate adaptation policy formulation.

 

 

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An official publication of Society for Environment and Development (SED India)