Blue Carbon Dynamics in the Indian Ocean Mangrove Ecosystems

Abstract

The global scientific community unequivocally accepts the significance of mangroves in offsetting anthropogenic carbon emissions. This unique vegetation sequesters disproportionately high carbon than many other natural ecosystems, and the countries bordering the Indian Ocean host varying extents of mangrove cover in their coastlines. Small countries like Comoros encompass as little as 1 km² mangrove, whereas Indonesia shelters the largest share (~30,000 km²). Many of these mangrove forests have witnessed a substantial reduction in the last century and the recent past decades. However, the scientific community has not paid equal attention to studying several aspects of these forests throughout the periphery of the Indian Ocean. The eastern Indian Ocean mangroves have received much more attention than their western counterparts. The authors have assembled all the data on these mangroves and explicitly discussed the present state-of-the-art of this crucial habitat and the spatial extent of these mangroves in the respective countries and their aboveground and belowground carbon stock. The chapter also focused on the soil organic carbon pool of these mangrove forests. Finally, the authors collated the findings on the factors that regulate the carbon dynamics within the mangrove forests of the Indian Ocean. This chapter would be beneficial for future researchers who wish to research this sector in the coming days. Besides illustrating the present scenario of knowledge base, the chapter also identified the lacunae that need to be taken into account soon.