Mangroves are among the world's most effective natural carbon stores, but new research suggests their ability to lock away carbon could weaken as sea levels continue to rise.
These salt-tolerant coastal forests occupy less than 1% of Earth's surface, yet they hold roughly 15% of all carbon stored in ocean ecosystems. Most of that carbon is trapped in the soils beneath the trees, making mangroves an important ally in efforts to slow climate change.
While some previous studies have indicated that rising sea levels could boost carbon storage in mangrove ecosystems, a new study paints a more complicated picture.
Rising Seas May Reduce Mangrove Carbon Storage
Researchers led by the University of Exeter, working with partners in Colombia and the United States, created a new computer model to examine how sea-level rise could affect carbon storage across entire mangrove forests.
