Co-benefits of protecting mangroves for biodiversity conservation and carbon storage

Functional distinctiveness of mangrove biodiversity is the strongest predictor of carbon storage, explaining up to 61% of variation in total ecosystem carbon in the Sundarbans Reserved Forest. This study reveals that protecting and restoring mangroves with diverse functional traits can maximize their climate mitigation potential through enhanced blue carbon storage. Researchers analyzed sediment salinity, taxonomic diversity, and functional diversity to assess their influence on above- and belowground plant biomass carbon, sediment organic carbon, and total ecosystem carbon storage. The findings underscore the co-benefits of biodiversity conservation for both local communities and global climate change mitigation efforts.

Rahman, M. M., Zimmer, M., Ahmed, I., Donato, D., Kanzaki, M., & Xu, M. (2021). Co-benefits of protecting mangroves for biodiversity conservation and carbon storage. Nature Communications, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24207-4