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© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. Mitra, Mangrove Forests in India,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20595-9_7
Chapter 7
Mangroves: Unique Sinks of Carbon
and Nitrogen
Abstract The mangrove forest ecosystems are known to store considerably higher
quantities of carbon per unit area. Apart from carbon storage potential, trees, herbs
and shrubs in mangrove ecosystem play an important role in storing other elements,
like nitrogen. Despite the importance of mangrove forest vegetations in storing carbon and nitrogen the economic aspects of these services have not been considered
in the management decisions. The present chapter has focused on this underresearched benefit of mangroves with ground-zero level observations from Indian
Sundarbans.
Keywords Carbon and nitrogen sequestration · Under-researched benefit ·
Ground-zero level observations · Indian Sundarbans
The rising Green House Gases (GHGs) emissions and the associated adverse
impacts on the ecosystem has lead to increased interest in identifying floral species
with high carbon and nitrogen stock capacity.
The mangrove forest ecosystems are known to store considerably higher quantities of carbon per unit area. Apart from carbon storage potential, trees, herbs and
shrubs in mangrove ecosystem play an important role in storing other elements, like
nitrogen. Despite the importance of mangrove forest vegetations in storing carbon
and nitrogen the economic aspects of these services have not been considered in the
management decisions. Various studies have now provided a monetary value for
carbon and nitrogen stocks (Newell et al. 2002; Piehler and Smyth 2011; Beseres
Pollack et al. 2013; Moore and Diaz 2015).
The value of 1 tonne of C ranges widely, from US $6.20 (New Zealand Unit,
NZU, spot price, February 2016) to $220 (Moore and Diaz 2015). In comparison,
the removal of 1 tonne of N in estuarine systems has been valued at approximately
US $15,000 (Newell et al. 2002; Piehler and Smyth 2011; Beseres Pollack et al.
2013). Regardless of the pricing model used, these valuations require accurate estimates of C and N stocks within the system.
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. Mitra, Mangrove Forests in India,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20595-9_7
Chapter 7
Mangroves: Unique Sinks of Carbon
and Nitrogen
Abstract The mangrove forest ecosystems are known to store considerably higher
quantities of carbon per unit area. Apart from carbon storage potential, trees, herbs
and shrubs in mangrove ecosystem play an important role in storing other elements,
like nitrogen. Despite the importance of mangrove forest vegetations in storing carbon and nitrogen the economic aspects of these services have not been considered
in the management decisions. The present chapter has focused on this underresearched benefit of mangroves with ground-zero level observations from Indian
Sundarbans.
Keywords Carbon and nitrogen sequestration · Under-researched benefit ·
Ground-zero level observations · Indian Sundarbans
The rising Green House Gases (GHGs) emissions and the associated adverse
impacts on the ecosystem has lead to increased interest in identifying floral species
with high carbon and nitrogen stock capacity.
The mangrove forest ecosystems are known to store considerably higher quantities of carbon per unit area. Apart from carbon storage potential, trees, herbs and
shrubs in mangrove ecosystem play an important role in storing other elements, like
nitrogen. Despite the importance of mangrove forest vegetations in storing carbon
and nitrogen the economic aspects of these services have not been considered in the
management decisions. Various studies have now provided a monetary value for
carbon and nitrogen stocks (Newell et al. 2002; Piehler and Smyth 2011; Beseres
Pollack et al. 2013; Moore and Diaz 2015).
The value of 1 tonne of C ranges widely, from US $6.20 (New Zealand Unit,
NZU, spot price, February 2016) to $220 (Moore and Diaz 2015). In comparison,
the removal of 1 tonne of N in estuarine systems has been valued at approximately
US $15,000 (Newell et al. 2002; Piehler and Smyth 2011; Beseres Pollack et al.
2013). Regardless of the pricing model used, these valuations require accurate estimates of C and N stocks within the system.