Global patterns in mangrove soil carbon stocks and losses

Trisha B. Atwood, Rod M. Connolly, Hanan Almahasheer, Paul E. Carnell, Carlos M. Duarte, Carolyn J. Ewers Lewis, Xabier Irigoien, Jeffrey J. Kelleway, Paul S. Lavery, Peter I. Macreadie, Oscar Serrano, Christian J. Sanders, Isaac Santos, Andrew D.L. Steven, Catherine E. Lovelock

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    489 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Mangrove soils represent a large sink for otherwise rapidly recycled carbon (C). However, widespread deforestation threatens the preservation of this important C stock. It is therefore imperative that global patterns in mangrove soil C stocks and their susceptibility to remineralization are understood. Here, we present patterns in mangrove soil C stocks across hemispheres, latitudes, countries and mangrove community compositions, and estimate potential annual CO2 emissions for countries where mangroves occur. Global potential CO2 emissions from soils as a result of mangrove loss were estimated to be ∼7.0 Tg CO2 e yr-1. Countries with the highest potential CO2 emissions from soils are Indonesia (3,410 Gg CO2 e yr-1) and Malaysia (1,288 Gg CO2 e yr-1). The patterns described serve as a baseline by which countries can assess their mangrove soil C stocks and potential emissions from mangrove deforestation.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)523-528
    Number of pages6
    JournalNature Climate Change
    Volume7
    Issue number7
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 30 Jun 2017

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