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Global patterns in mangrove soil carbon stocks and losses
journal contribution
posted on 2017-06-30, 00:00 authored by T B Atwood, R M Connolly, H Almahasheer, Paul CarnellPaul Carnell, C M Duarte, C J E Lewis, X Irigoien, J J Kelleway, P S Lavery, Peter MacreadiePeter Macreadie, O Serrano, C J Sanders, I Santos, A D L Steven, C E LovelockMangrove 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 CO 2 emissions for countries where mangroves occur. Global potential CO 2 emissions from soils as a result of mangrove loss were estimated to be ∼7.0 Tg CO 2 e yr -1 . Countries with the highest potential CO2 emissions from soils are Indonesia (3,410 Gg CO 2 e yr -1 ) and Malaysia (1,288 Gg CO 2 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.