Evaluation of biomass and carbon storage potential of a natural mangrove stand in Muzhappilangad, Kerala, southwest coast of India

Abstract

The present study was envisaged to assess the biomass and carbon stocks of a natural mangrove stand of Muzhappilangad wetland of Kerala, southwest coast of India. The carbon stocks of aboveground, below-ground (root) and sediment carbon pools were assessed to arrive at the total ecosystem carbon stock. The grey mangrove Avicennia marina was the predominant species which registered an average tree density of 1,592.31 individuals ha-1. The overall mean above-ground biomass was 260.69 ± 151.76 t ha-1, while the overall mean root biomass was 102.84 ± 53.84 t ha-1. The estimated mean C-stocks were 130.34 ± 75.88, 51.42 ± 26.92 and 28.68 ± 10.14 ha-1 in the above-ground, root and sediment carbon pools respectively. The carbon stock in the aboveground biomass constituted 61.94%, while the root biomass and sediment constituted 24.43% and 13.63% of C-stock respectively. The total ecosystem carbon stock of Muzhappilangad wetland was 210.44 t C ha-1 which is equivalent to 772.32 t CO2 ha -1. The Muzhappilangad estuarine wetland has a mangrove cover of 8.9 ha and therefore it can be presumed that this small wetland along the southwest coast of India has the potential to sequester and store 1,872.92 t C, equivalent to an estimated 6,873.61 t CO2.