It is reported that increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration induced from such human activities as fossil fuel combustion, concrete manufacture and land use change mainly contribute to global climate change. Human society and natural ecosystem might not adapt to this rapid climate change. Cutting carbon emission and enhancing carbon sequestration at the regional scale have become an urgent task in the whole world. Terrestrial ecosystems play a significant role in offsetting atmospheric CO₂ and balancing the overall carbon budget. During the past two decades, with the development of regional and global networks of eddy covariance flux measurements, our understanding of the carbon budget for diverse ecosystems has been greatly improved. However, flux measurements are facing new challenges towards the mission of regional carbon management.

On the one hand, our understanding on the interactions between carbon processes with other biogeochemical processes (e.g., water cycle and nitrogen cycle) at a local scale is still quite limited, while clarifying the connections between these cycles is the basis for carbon management intervention. On the other hand, the methodology on scaling carbon flux from a specific site to a whole region is evolving. Many approaches are integrated and illustrate promising perspective, but they still have great uncertainties and need further assessments. In addition, our focus on the dynamics of ecosystem carbon budget should not be focused on normal conditions only. More attention should be paid to the interactive impacts of natural disturbances and human activities on carbon cycle and other associated biogeochemical processes.

AsiaFlux is a science community with a mission to bring Asia's key ecosystems under observation to ensure quality and sustainability of life on earth. Our vision is to be the learning frontiers of ecosystem science, service and stewardship, where knowledge is produced and practiced based on systems thinking to fulfill sustainability. This 9^th AsiaFlux workshop will discuss the scientific challenges on the current issues in flux measurement and monitoring; couplings among cycles of carbon, water and nitrogen; the effects of natural and human disturbances on ecosystem assessment; a new synthesis on regional carbon budget; as well as resilient carbon/water management and ecosystem stewardship. Scientists from AsiaFlux communities and other regional networks will assemble to share their latest achievements on these issues.