Mangroves thwart carbon absorption in atmosphere, studies reveal
The quest to better understand how mangroves can help tackle climate-related problems is part of a global strategy to protect these ecosystems promoted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (Unesco), which has designated July 26 as the International Day for the Conservation of Mangroves.
The initiative has mobilized scientists. Research shows that restoring these ecosystems could prove instrumental in reducing carbon in the environment, slowing down the pace of global warming.
In early July, researchers from the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) completed a study focusing on the city’s mangroves. Investigations took place in the bays of Ilha Grande, Sepetiba, and Guanabara, as well as in Baixada de Jacarepaguá and Baixada Norte Fluminense. The specialists concluded that these areas prevent the release of a total of 25 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere—some BRL 500 million in monetary terms.
“For the first time we obtained a detailed view of the carbon stock in these mangroves considering different spatial scales—like coastal systems, municipalities, and conservation units. This is a significant stride, as it positions Rio de Janeiro as the first state to compile a full inventory of its mangroves, providing a better understanding of their role in mitigating global warming,” reported the university’s Mangrove Studies Center, which conducted the analysis.
Carbon capture
Two years ago, another survey, conducted by the Boticário Group Foundation for Nature Protection, revealed that carbon capture is 57 percent higher in mangroves than in other tropical vegetation. Entitled Ocean Without Secrets: Unraveling Mangroves, the study also shows that the ecosystem is linked to the life cycle of various marine species of great commercial value, among them snooks, mullets, crabs, oysters, and crabs.
Currently, mangroves cover an area of approximately 10 thousand square kilometers throughout Brazil. They are characteristic formations found in swampy areas along the coastlines and play a crucial role in environmental balance and the sustenance of marine life. Located at the boundary between land and sea, subjected to tidal cycles that cause water levels to rise and fall, mangroves host lush biodiversity and serve as a natural nursery for a wide number of fish and crustacean species that reproduce and feed there.
Mobilization
According to a statement released by Unesco for the International Day for the Conservation of Mangroves, over three quarters of the planet’s mangroves are in danger. They are dwindling faster than global forests in general, which makes not only an ecological but also an economic impact, as the swamps provide food and income for coastal communities worldwide.
Unesco reports that mangrove coverage on the planet has halved in the last 40 years, leading to increased flooding and posing a threat to the natural balance required to combat climate change, as mangrove soil is an efficient carbon sink, extracting substantial amounts of the gas from the atmosphere.
