https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/ja/2015/ja_2015_trettin_001.pdf

Carbon stocks of mangroves within the Zambezi River Delta, Mozambique

Land is integral to human habitation and livelihoods, providing food and resources, and also serves as a source of identity and cultural meaning. However, the combined impacts of climate change, desertification, land degradation and food insecurity pose obstacles to resilient development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This chapter reviews and assesses literature on risk and uncertainty surrounding land and climate change, policy instruments and decision-making that seek to address those risks and uncertainties, and governance practices that advance the response options with co-benefits identified in Chapter 6, lessen the socio-economic impacts of climate change and reduce trade-offs, and advance SLM.

Risk management and decision-making in relation to sustainable development

Solutions to blue carbon emissions: Shrimp cultivation, mangrove deforestation and climate change in coastal Bangladesh

Demand for mangrove forest resources has led to a steady decline in mangrove area over the past century. Land conversions in the form of agriculture, aquaculture and urbanization account for much of the deforestation of mangrove wetlands. However, natural processes at the transition zone between land and ocean can also rapidly change mangrove spread. In this study, we applied a robust field-based carbon inventory and new structural and temporal remote sensing techniques to quantify the magnitude and change of mangrove carbon stocks in major deltas across Africa and Asia. From 2000–2016, approximately 1.6% (12 270 ha) of the total mangrove area within these deltas disappeared, primarily through erosion and conversion to agriculture. However, the rapid expansion of mangroves in some regions during this same period resulted in new forests that were taller and more carbon-dense than the deforested areas. Because of the rapid vertical growth rates and horizontal expansion, new mangrove forests were able to offset the total carbon losses of 5 332 843 Mg C by 44%. Each hectare of new mangrove forest accounted for ∼84% to ∼160% of the aboveground carbon for each hectare of mangrove forest lost, regardless of the net change in mangrove area. Our study highlights the significance of the natural dynamics of erosion and sedimentation on carbon loss and sequestration potential for mangroves over time. Areas of naturally regenerating mangroves will have a much larger carbon sequestration potential if the rate of mangrove deforestation of taller forests is curbed.

/pdf/measuring-mangrove-carbon-loss-and-gain-in-deltas-3pd4l0r0a6.pdf

Measuring mangrove carbon loss and gain in deltas

https://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/mackenzie/psw_2020_mackenzie002_sharma.pdf

The impacts of degradation, deforestation and restoration on mangrove ecosystem carbon stocks across Cambodia

The Sundarbans (21o30′–22o30′ N and 89o00′–89o55′ E) is the largest mangrove forest in the world. Forests are very important for sequestering atmospheric carbon and mangroves are amongst the most efficient in carbon sequestration. This study presents the estimation of ecosystem carbon (above- and belowground) stock in the Sundarbans using a large scale data sets collected from systematic grid samples throughout the forest. The variation of carbon stock in different vegetation types and in different salinity zones in Sundarbans was investigated. The relationships between carbon stock and different vegetation functional attributes (basal area, mean tree height, crown coverage etc.) were also investigated. The amount of carbon stored varied significantly among vegetation types, salinity zones and vegetation functional attributes (P < 0.05). Sundri (Heritiera fomes) dominated forest types store more ecosystem carbon (360.1 ± 22.71 Mg C ha−1) than other vegetation types. The fresh water zone shows the highest ecosystem carbon stock (336.09 ± 14.74 Mg C ha−1) followed by moderate and strong salinity zones. Salinity was found to enhance belowground carbon stock as revealed by the lowest proportion of belowground carbon stock (57.2 %) with respect to ecosystem carbon in fresh water zone and by the highest (71.9 %) in strong salinity zone. The results also reveal that no matter whether the mangroves are tall or dwarf, a significant amount of carbon is stored into the sediment. The vegetation attributes (basal area and mean tree height) of the dominant mangrove species in each vegetation type were identified as the key indicator of ecosystem carbon stock. We recommended some generalized regression equations to predict ecosystem carbon stock from basal area or mean tree height.

Carbon stock in the Sundarbans mangrove forest: spatial variations in vegetation types and salinity zones

Understanding the issues of local environmental governance is crucial for both the environment and for policy. This paper examines the performance of local government institutions such as municipalities in terms of their environmental responses in their responsibilities. Authorities of two municipalities and stakeholders are the primary sources of data in this study. Based on their responses, the findings are that these municipalities barely qualify as urban governing bodies in ensuring environmentally friendly governance. They are found to be highly inactive in ensuring environmental sustainability in their regular and development programs. Stakeholders are found to be greatly deprived of the services they should receive from their local authorities. The expectations of stakeholders and the actual services delivered by the authorities in regard to the environment are significantly out of step with each.

A. K. Fazlul Hoque

Papers

Carbon stock in the Sundarbans mangrove forest: spatial variations in vegetation types and salinity zones

Local environmental governance in Bangladesh: Howfar are municipalities involved in achieving environmental sustainability?