Published in ERW, 15 Dec 2014
Researchers in the US have developed a model that can predict which mangrove soils contain the most carbon. The hope is that the model will encourage the formation of a carbon market for mangroves, which are known to store much more carbon on average than other types of vegetation.
Studies suggest that mangroves contain three to four times the amount of carbon in boreal, temperate or upland-tropical forests. Unlike these forest ecosystems, mangroves store most – about 70% – of their carbon in soil, which steadily collects organic matter dumped by tides. Since this matter is stored underwater, it decomposes anaerobically, helping it to retain the carbon. […]
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