Globally, vegetation in riparian zones is frequently the target of restoration efforts because of its importance in reducing the input of eroded sediment and agricultural nutrient runoff to surface waters. Here we examine the potential of riparian zone restoration to enhance carbon sequestration. We measured soil and woody biomass carbon stocks, as well as soil carbon properties, in a long-term chronosequence of 42 streambank revegetation projects in northern California rangelands, varying in restoration age from 1 to 45 years old. Where revegetation was successful, we found that soil carbon measured to 50 cm depth increased at a rate of 0.87 Mg C ha−1 year−1 on the floodplain and 1.12 Mg C ha−1 year−1 on the upper bank landform. Restored sites also exhibited trends toward increased soil carbon permanence, including an increased C:N ratio and lower fulvic acid: humic acid ratio. Tree and shrub carbon in restored sites was modeled to achieve a 50-year maximum of 187.5 Mg C ha−1 in the channel, 279.3 Mg ha−1 in the floodplain, and 238.66 Mg ha−1 on the upper bank. After 20 years of restoration, the value of this carbon at current per-ton C prices would amount to $US 15,000 per km of restored stream. We conclude that revegetating rangeland streambanks for erosion control has a substantial additional benefit of mitigating global climate change, and should be considered in carbon accounting and any associated financial compensation mechanisms.

中文翻译：

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牧场河岸恢复的结果是土壤和木质生物量碳储量增加。

在全球范围内，沿河带的植被通常是恢复工作的目标，因为其在减少侵蚀性沉积物和农业养分径流向地表水输入中的重要性。在这里，我们研究了河岸带恢复增强碳固存的潜力。我们在北加利福尼亚牧场的42个河岸植被再造项目的长期时间序列中测量了土壤和木质生物量碳储量以及土壤碳特性，恢复年龄在1到45岁之间。在成功进行植被恢复的地方，我们发现，在洪泛区，测得50厘米深度的土壤碳以0.87 Mg C ha-1年-1的速率增加，在上岸地貌上以1.12 Mg C ha-1年-1的速率增加。恢复的地点还表现出增加土壤碳持久性的趋势，包括增加C：N比和较低的富里酸：腐殖酸比。对恢复地点的树木和灌木碳进行建模，以使该河道的50年最大值达到187.5 Mg ha-1，洪泛区达到279.3 Mg ha-1，而上岸达到238.66 Mg ha-1。经过20年的恢复，按当前每吨C价格计，此碳的价值为每公里恢复流15,000美元。我们得出的结论是，对草地流域进行植被恢复以进行侵蚀控制具有缓解全球气候变化的巨大额外好处，因此应在碳会计和任何相关的财务补偿机制中加以考虑。经过20年的恢复，按当前每吨C价格计，此碳的价值为每公里恢复流15,000美元。我们得出的结论是，对草地流域进行植被恢复以进行侵蚀控制具有缓解全球气候变化的巨大好处，因此应在碳会计和任何相关的财务补偿机制中加以考虑。经过20年的恢复，按当前每吨C价格计，此碳的价值为每公里恢复流15,000美元。我们得出的结论是，对草地流域进行植被恢复以进行侵蚀控制具有缓解全球气候变化的巨大好处，因此应在碳会计和任何相关的财务补偿机制中加以考虑。