A Re-evaluation of Wetland Carbon Sink Mitigation Concepts and Measurements: A Diagenetic Solution

Abstract The capacity of wetlands to mitigate greenhouse gas ( GHG ) emissions is the sum two services: protection vulnerable organic stocks from remineralisation, and sequester GHGs relative their anthropogenic replacements . Organic carbon accumulation CA down through sediment column often taken as measure sequestration because its record long-term variability trends. However, we demonstrate that: i) not equivalent net ecosystem production NEP for open systems; it requires subtraction initial deposition rate labile allochthonous sources; ii) also intrinsically recalcitrants column, together with autochthonous stock services; iii) a climatic mitigation service diagenetic correction, annual continues remineralise over long-term; iv) preserving wetland has significantly greater potential than restoring one. To address above concerns, global solution proposed, applied tested tropical seagrass mangrove. As expected, traditional estimates were disproportionately larger respective diagenetically modelled NEPs, fell within ranges reported in literature, final accreditation highly dependent on choice replacements. review demonstrates that concepts measurements natural solutions require re-evaluation avoid or reduce ability fulfil emission targets.