STRUCTURE AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN URBAN MANGROVES, FUNDAMENTALS FOR CONSERVATION IN ISLA DEL CARMEN CAMPECHE, MEXICO

Background: In the Yucatan Peninsula, some mangrove areas were filled with rubble and residential areas were latter developed. Questions: Can the knowledge of the forest structure and carbon storage be used to establish a baseline for urban mangrove conservation? Study species: Rhizophora mangle L., Laguncularia racemosa Gaertn f., Avicennia germinans L. y Conocarpus erectus L. Location and study year: Isla del Carmen, Campeche, 2017. Methods: Sampling units were established for assessing vegetation structure and measuring above-ground and below-ground carbon stock in two mangrove zone; the first one was filled with rubble and the second without land use changes. Results: The site filled with rubble had a basal area of 25.4 m(2) ha(-1), where A. germinans was the dominant species with stand density of 675 trees ha(-1), with average height of 5.5 m and average diameter at breast height of 13.4 +/- 1.6 cm. The site without land use changes had a basal area of 27.8 m(2) ha(-1) and A. germinans was also the most abundant species with 731 trees ha(-1), but individuals were smaller (5.0 m tall) and with greater diameter at breast height (15.2 cm), as compared with the other site. The estimated total carbon stored in the second site (383 Mg C ha(-1)) was higher than in the first one (321 Mg C ha(-1)). Conclusions: The ecological value of carbon sequestration and forest structure contributed to strengthening the conservation and protection measures against invasions of urban mangroves.

Automated summary

The study found that the ecological value of carbon sequestration and forest structure is crucial for strengthening conservation measures in urban mangroves.