Reduction in global area burned and wildfire emissions since 1930s enhances carbon uptake by land

The terrestrial biosphere currently absorbs about 30% of anthropogenic CO(2) emissions. This carbon uptake over land results primarily from vegetation’s response to increasing atmospheric CO(2) but other factors also play a role. Here we show that since the 1930s increasing population densities and cropland area have decreased global area burned, consistent with the charcoal record and recent satellite-based observations. The associated reduced wildfire emissions from increase in cropland area do not enhance carbon uptake since natural vegetation that is spared burning was deforested anyway. However, reduction in fire CO(2) emissions due to fire suppression and landscape fragmentation associated with increases in population density is calculated to enhance land carbon uptake by 0.13 Pg C yr(−1), or ~19% of the global land carbon uptake (0.7 ± 0.6 Pg C yr(−1)), for the 1960–2009 period. These results identify reduction in global wildfire CO(2) emissions as yet another mechanism that is currently enhancing carbon uptake over land.