Carbon emission reduction and sequestration benefits of lakeshore ecological restoration in the Yangtze River Delta: a case study of Yuandang Lake

Global climate change is intensifying, accompanied by a continued rise in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. Under certain conditions, lakes can act as carbon sources, highlighting the importance of lakeshore ecological restoration in mitigating climate change. However, studies quantifying the carbon emission reduction and sequestration benefits of lakeshore ecological restoration remain limited. This study assessed these benefits using the Yuandang Embankment Standardization and Lakeshore Ecological Restoration Project in the Yangtze River Delta as a case study. Three restoration measures were evaluated: ecological shoreline restoration, terrestrial vegetation optimization, and the establishment of a forest–wetland composite system. The results showed that ecological revetment reduced carbon emissions during the construction stage, with emissions per unit shoreline length decreasing from 367.2 t/km to 150.8 t/km, a reduction of 58.9%. Terrestrial vegetation optimization and the establishment of a forest-wetland composite system enhanced ecosystem carbon sequestration capacity, with estimated annual carbon sequestration intensities of 8.6-16.9 kg/(m²·a) and 2.6-5.1 kg/(m²·a), respectively. Furthermore, extending similar restoration measures along the shorelines of Yuandang and Dianshan Lake was estimated to achieve a carbon emission reduction of 1.8×10⁴ t and annual carbon sequestration of 1.9×10⁴-3.6×10⁴ t/a. These findings indicate that lakeshore ecological restoration has considerable potential to contribute to carbon neutrality. Further research and practical applications are recommended to integrate carbon emission reduction and sequestration into lakeshore ecological restoration projects, enhance the carbon sink value of lake ecosystems, and support China’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.