A recent report titled “Blue Carbon and its Role in Carbon Sequestration” highlights the significant potential of mangroves in storing carbon, with the ability to store over 1,000 tons of carbon per hectare. Mangroves, along with other blue carbon ecosystems, are crucial in combating climate change and achieving sustainability goals. They absorb and store carbon dioxide at a rate higher than terrestrial forests, providing additional benefits such as coastal protection, biodiversity conservation, and livelihood support. However, these ecosystems are threatened by human activities like aquaculture, agriculture, and pollution. The loss of blue carbon ecosystems not only reduces their carbon sequestration capacity but also exacerbates climate change by releasing stored carbon back into the atmosphere. Restoring these ecosystems can provide economic benefits, with ecotourism and government initiatives like the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) and the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) policy promoting sustainable coastal development.
Blue Carbon: A Critical Component in the Global Effort to Mitigate Climate Change through Coastal Ecosystems’ Carbon Sequestration Capabilities
