Alongi, Daniel M. and Zimmer, Martin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1549-8871 (2024) Sustainable Development of Mangrove Ecosystems: A Blue Carbon Perspective. In: Blue Carbon Mangrove Ecosystems. ; 1 . Spinger, Cham, pp. 73-95. ISBN 978-3-031-69553-7 DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-69553-7_7.

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Abstract

Mangroves sequester more Blue Carbon (BC) than most other marine ecosystems, making them ideal candidates for conservation and sustainable (re-)establishment, which is urgently needed due to large global losses. Deforestation rates are declining, but conservation of remaining intact forests and/or forests of high intrinsic value are still urgently needed. Conserving existing mangroves is the most cost-effective and efficient measure for management of C sequestration. Forest losses result in oxidation of sediment organic matter and the return of large amounts of BC as CO2eq to the atmosphere. Losses from sea-level rise are forecast to increase by 1.1–3.4 Pg CO2eq by 2100. Model projections of deforestation rates into the future suggest emissions of 679 Tg CO2eq from 2012–2095.

Global CO2eq emissions from all causes (mostly erosion, agriculture, aquaculture) may reach 2391–3392 Tg CO2eq by 2100, with largest losses from the West Coral Triangle. Sustainable development of mangrove restoration/rehabilitation or afforestation projects is still in its infancy with environmental, technical, social, economic, and political problems and barriers; most mangrove BC projects are unsuccessful. Success rates can be enhanced by: improving policy and legal arrangements to ensure equitable benefit sharing; improving stewardship by incorporating knowledge and values of local communities; clarifying property rights; improving financial approaches and accounting tools to incorporate co- benefits; developing low cost, technological methods to measure carbon sequestration; and resolving knowledge gaps in BC biogeochemistry. Mangroves buffer only less than 1% of global CO2 emissions, but restoration projects can be of local and national importance.

Document Type:	Book chapter
Programme Area:	PA4
Research affiliation:	Ecology > Mangrove Ecology
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-69553-7_7
ISSN:	2730-5430
Date Deposited:	10 Feb 2025 10:55
Last Modified:	11 Feb 2025 12:14
URI:	http://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/5577

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