Brazilian Mangroves: Blue Carbon Hotspots of National and Global Relevance to Natural Climate Solutions
Mangroves are known for large carbon stocks and high sequestration rates in biomass and soils, making these intertidal wetlands a cost-effective strategy for some nations to compensate for a portion of their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. However, few countries have the national-level inventories r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Forests and Global Change |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2021.787533/full |
| _version_ | 1831757941556903936 |
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| author | Andre S. Rovai Robert R. Twilley Thomas A. Worthington Pablo Riul |
| author_facet | Andre S. Rovai Robert R. Twilley Thomas A. Worthington Pablo Riul |
| author_sort | Andre S. Rovai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mangroves are known for large carbon stocks and high sequestration rates in biomass and soils, making these intertidal wetlands a cost-effective strategy for some nations to compensate for a portion of their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. However, few countries have the national-level inventories required to support the inclusion of mangroves into national carbon credit markets. This is the case for Brazil, home of the second largest mangrove area in the world but lacking an integrated mangrove carbon inventory that captures the diversity of coastline types and climatic zones in which mangroves are present. Here we reviewed published datasets to derive the first integrated assessment of carbon stocks, carbon sequestration rates and potential CO2eq emissions across Brazilian mangroves. We found that Brazilian mangroves hold 8.5% of the global mangrove carbon stocks (biomass and soils combined). When compared to other Brazilian vegetated biomes, mangroves store up to 4.3 times more carbon in the top meter of soil and are second in biomass carbon stocks only to the Amazon forest. Moreover, organic carbon sequestration rates in Brazilian mangroves soils are 15–30% higher than recent global estimates; and integrated over the country’s area, they account for 13.5% of the carbon buried in world’s mangroves annually. Carbon sequestration in Brazilian mangroves woody biomass is 10% of carbon accumulation in mangrove woody biomass globally. Our study identifies Brazilian mangroves as a major global blue carbon hotspot and suggest that their loss could potentially release substantial amounts of CO2. This research provides a robust baseline for the consideration of mangroves into strategies to meet Brazil’s intended Nationally Determined Contributions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T00:39:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b88d2228483b4feda5463b4b5b73f669 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-893X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T00:39:55Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Forests and Global Change |
| spelling | doaj.art-b88d2228483b4feda5463b4b5b73f6692022-12-21T18:44:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Forests and Global Change2624-893X2022-01-01410.3389/ffgc.2021.787533787533Brazilian Mangroves: Blue Carbon Hotspots of National and Global Relevance to Natural Climate SolutionsAndre S. Rovai0Robert R. Twilley1Thomas A. Worthington2Pablo Riul3Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, College of the Coast & Environment, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United StatesDepartment of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, College of the Coast & Environment, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United StatesConservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United KingdomDepartamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, BrazilMangroves are known for large carbon stocks and high sequestration rates in biomass and soils, making these intertidal wetlands a cost-effective strategy for some nations to compensate for a portion of their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. However, few countries have the national-level inventories required to support the inclusion of mangroves into national carbon credit markets. This is the case for Brazil, home of the second largest mangrove area in the world but lacking an integrated mangrove carbon inventory that captures the diversity of coastline types and climatic zones in which mangroves are present. Here we reviewed published datasets to derive the first integrated assessment of carbon stocks, carbon sequestration rates and potential CO2eq emissions across Brazilian mangroves. We found that Brazilian mangroves hold 8.5% of the global mangrove carbon stocks (biomass and soils combined). When compared to other Brazilian vegetated biomes, mangroves store up to 4.3 times more carbon in the top meter of soil and are second in biomass carbon stocks only to the Amazon forest. Moreover, organic carbon sequestration rates in Brazilian mangroves soils are 15–30% higher than recent global estimates; and integrated over the country’s area, they account for 13.5% of the carbon buried in world’s mangroves annually. Carbon sequestration in Brazilian mangroves woody biomass is 10% of carbon accumulation in mangrove woody biomass globally. Our study identifies Brazilian mangroves as a major global blue carbon hotspot and suggest that their loss could potentially release substantial amounts of CO2. This research provides a robust baseline for the consideration of mangroves into strategies to meet Brazil’s intended Nationally Determined Contributions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2021.787533/fullBrazilmangrove forestsblue carbonhotspotCO2 equivalent emissions |
| spellingShingle | Andre S. Rovai Robert R. Twilley Thomas A. Worthington Pablo Riul Brazilian Mangroves: Blue Carbon Hotspots of National and Global Relevance to Natural Climate Solutions Frontiers in Forests and Global Change Brazil mangrove forests blue carbon hotspot CO2 equivalent emissions |
| title | Brazilian Mangroves: Blue Carbon Hotspots of National and Global Relevance to Natural Climate Solutions |
| title_full | Brazilian Mangroves: Blue Carbon Hotspots of National and Global Relevance to Natural Climate Solutions |
| title_fullStr | Brazilian Mangroves: Blue Carbon Hotspots of National and Global Relevance to Natural Climate Solutions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Brazilian Mangroves: Blue Carbon Hotspots of National and Global Relevance to Natural Climate Solutions |
| title_short | Brazilian Mangroves: Blue Carbon Hotspots of National and Global Relevance to Natural Climate Solutions |
| title_sort | brazilian mangroves blue carbon hotspots of national and global relevance to natural climate solutions |
| topic | Brazil mangrove forests blue carbon hotspot CO2 equivalent emissions |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2021.787533/full |
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