Blue carbon drawdown by restored mangrove forests improves with age

The restoration of blue carbon ecosystems, such as mangrove forests, is increasingly used as a management tool to mitigate climate change by removing and sequestering atmospheric carbon in the ground. However, estimates of carbon-offset potential are currently based on data from natural mangrove forests, potentially leading to overestimating the carbon-offset potential from restored mangroves. Here, in the first study of its kind, we utilise Pb-210 sediment age-dating techniques and greenhouse gas flux measures to estimate blue carbon additionality in restored mangrove forests, ranging from 13 to 35 years old. As expected, mangrove age had a significant effect on carbon additionality and carbon accretion rate, with the older mangrove stands (17 and 35 years old) holding double the total carbon stocks (aboveground + soil stocks; similar to 115 tonnes C ha- (1)) and double the soil sequestration rates (similar to 3 tonnes C ha(-1) yr(-1)) than the youngest mangrove stand (13 years old). Although soil carbon stocks increased with mangrove age, the aboveground plant stocks were highest in the 17-year-old stand. Mangrove age also had a significant effect on soil carbon fluxes, with the older mangroves (>= 17 years) releasing one-fourth of the CH4 emissions, but double the CO2 flux compared to young stands. Our study suggests that the carbon sink capacity of restored mangrove forests increases with age, but stabilises once they mature (e.g., > 17 years). This means that by using carbon sequestration and emissions from natural forests, mangrove restoration projects may be overestimating their carbon sequestration potential.

Automated summary

The age of mangrove forests has a significant effect on carbon additionality and carbon accretion rate, with older mangrove stands holding greater carbon stocks and higher soil sequestration rates. However, age also affects soil carbon fluxes, with older mangroves releasing less methane emissions but higher CO2 flux compared to young stands. This suggests that the carbon sink capacity of restored mangrove forests increases with age but stabilizes once they mature.