This manual provides a general conceptual framework for collecting and analyzing radionuclides related to the 210Pb dating method in mangrove ecosystems. The 210Pb radionuclide dating method applies alpha and/or gamma spectrometry. This guide outlines procedures for field sample collection, laboratory analyses and data analyses relating to these approaches.
Tag: coastal areas
The crab silvofishery system as a conservation strategy in mangrove restoration area: A case study on the coast of Banyuasin, South Sumatra
Anthropogenic activities such as logging and converting mangrove forests into plantations have degraded coastal ecosystems and reduced their ecological stability. Silvofishery is a restoration system that balances the ecological and economic functions of mangroves. In Marga Sungsang Village, South Sumatra, mangrove restoration was integrated with mud crab (Scylla spp.) cultivation through a crab silvofishery system. This study aimed to analyze the contribution of mangrove restoration with a mud crab silvofishery system to mud crab growth. The study was conducted from August 2024 to January 2025. Growth parameters included carapace length, width, and body weight. Analyses covered absolute growth and the correlation between carapace width and body weight. Results showed that in non-mangrove ponds, Scylla tranquebarica males exhibited negative allometry (prominent carapace width), while females showed positive allometry (prominent body weight). Scylla paramamosain showed negative allometry in both sexes. In contrast, in mangrove ponds, both species showed positive allometry for both sexes, indicating higher weight gain. These findings suggest that mangrove vegetation provides optimal habitat conditions by increasing nutrient availability, protecting crabs during molting, and improving substrate quality. The results not only demonstrate the bioecological relationship between mangrove vegetation and mangrove crab growth but also highlight the role of crab silvofishery systems in supporting food security, mitigating climate change, and conserving coastal ecosystems. These results align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically goal 2 (end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture), goal 13 (climate action), and goal 14 (life below water). Although informative, this study was limited by temporal observations conducted only at the start of seed stocking and at harvest. Further research with continuous monitoring and environmental parameter analysis is needed. The findings can support mangrove restoration policies that integrate vegetation recovery with sustainable community-based aquaculture and promote blue economy development.
Advancing Sustainable Mangrove Restoration: A Community-Driven Edu-Ecotourism Business Model in Banyuasin
Coastal communities in the Banyuasin District heavily rely on mangrove ecosystem services. However, unsustainable livelihood practices are driving mangroves into degradation. Our study aims to identify alternative livelihoods that can transform more sustainable mangrove businesses and practices. This will be achieved by co-developing a business model through participatory action research (PAR)in mangrove villages of Banyuasin. Our study revealed potential community-driven edu-ecotourism businesses in Sungsang and Marga Sungsang Village for further development. This business heavily relies on the natural authenticity of its mangrove, which amplifies the urgency to restore the degraded mangrove in the landscape. Thus, there is a high alignment of the business model canvas components with restoration activities such as the development of a mangrove seedling nursery, selling, and planting. This community-driven business is financially viable, according to the financial metrics, with a net present value (NPV) of IDR 180,148,622, a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.3, an internal rate of return (IRR) of 52.88%, and a payback period (PBP) of 1.7 years. The development of this business model can leverage sustainable livelihood opportunities and reconcile multiple interests while amplifying the urgency of restoring mangroves. The collaborative efforts among the community during this process serve as an exercise to build collective knowledge, strengthen social ties, and enhance trust and communication. This, in turn, leads to stronger collective action and social capital, which can sustain mangrove restoration beyond the project duration.
Restoration of declining soil carbon stocks and lost surface elevations in degraded mangroves on the northern coast of Java, Indonesia
Restoring degraded coastal zones could help to stem the loss of carbon (estimated by soil carbon differences) and soil surface elevations (measured through rod surface elevation table and marker horizon) due to mangrove conversion and sea-level rise. In mangroves, total ecosystem carbon stocks are primarily stored in soil, however the presence of vegetation remains crucial. When we assessed soil carbon across contrasting land uses in Wedung and Sayung Districts in Demak Regency, Central Java, we found that converting mangrove to aquaculture increased soil carbon by 17.68 Mg C ha-1 in Wedung but decreased it as much as 62.58 Mg C ha-1 in Sayung. Meanwhile, abandonment of ponds resulted in a loss of 34.24 Mg C ha-1 in Wedung but a gain of 8.81 Mg C ha-1 in Sayung. The estimated local sea-level rise of 0.45 cm yr-1 led to relative sea-level rises of 5.56, 6.82, and 1.36 cm yr-1 in mangroves, working and abandoned ponds respectively in Wedung, and 8.00, 10.39, and 10.46 cm yr-1 respectively in the same environments in Sayung. This indicates that Sayung is more severely inundated. After considering land subsidence levels, only mangroves in Wedung experienced an elevation surplus of 2.02 cm yr-1. The remaining land uses suffered elevation deficits, hence being inundated by 1.86 and 15.00 cm yr-1 in abandoned ponds in Wedung and Sayung respectively. Despite variation in this study’s findings, some scenarios could be considered useful to support relevant coastal areas to enhance soil carbon stocks or surface elevation.
Leveraging mangroves to advance climate action in Africa: Zooming in on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
Mangroves are vital for climate change adaptation and mitigation due to their efficient carbon sequestration and coastal protection roles providing often untapped opportunities for countries to enhance their national climate commitments (including the so-called Nationally Determined Contributions) under the Paris Agreement adopted at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP21 in 2015. In Africa, several countries possess mangroves and have signed the Paris Agreement, however, the level of integration of mangrove actions into the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) has not been adequately explored.
Using a systematic review methodology, 33 African countries possessing mangroves were selected and their NDCs were reviewed, scored, and ranked to assess their level of integration of mangrove ecosystems into their NDCs.
Countries like Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sudan demonstrate commendable progress and leadership in integrating mangroves within their NDCs. However, gaps in budgetary commitments, spatial planning, and temporal specificity for mangrove actions among a majority of the countries hinder broader mangrove inclusion. The study also revealed a disconnect between research outputs and policy frameworks, where countries with increased mangrove research output in Africa failed to integrate mangrove actions into their NDCs.
To increase African countries’ resilience to climate risks and contributions to global climate goals, there is a need to increase effective collaboration between mangrove researchers, local communities, and policymakers in mangrove-possessing countries. This will bolster public education on mangroves and their inclusion of mangrove actions in their NDCs, ultimately enhancing the implementation of mangrove actions on the ground.
National Dialogue VIET NAM: Kunming Montréal-Global Biodiversity Framework Target 2 Pilots Project
The main objective of the national dialogue was to collaboratively identify challenges and build a roadmap for Viet Nam to achieve KM-GBF Target 2: ensuring that at least 30 percent of degraded terrestrial, inland water, and marine and coastal ecosystems are under effective restoration by 2030.
Towards comprehensive blue carbon accounting in Vietnam
Key messages
- The Government of Vietnam pays great attention to protecting mangrove ecosystems as they play a vital role in climate change mitigation. In 2024, the government issued Technical Guidelines for Biomass and Carbon Stock Estimation of Mangrove Forests (Decision No. 316/QD-LN-SXLN). These Guidelines aim to standardize estimates for biomass and carbon stock, and increase carbon storage from their restoration. This brief looks at required improvements to the Guidelines to help Vietnam join the blue carbon market.
- Better estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from converted mangroves are needed to understand baseline emissions from anthropogenic disturbances in mangrove forests, as well as the impact of ending conversion of mangroves to other uses like aquaculture. To that end, better information on conversion and land-management practices is needed. This includes excavation depth for construction of aquaculture ponds and infrastructure development, nitrogen inputs for aquaculture production, and knowledge on crop types, drainage depth, and GHG budgets in mangroves converted to agriculture.
- More refined estimates of GHG emissions from converted mangroves can help shed light on baseline emissions from anthropogenic disturbances in mangrove forests, as well as the impact of ending conversion of mangroves to other uses like aquaculture.
- Strategic alignment with established blue carbon standards—such as the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Gold Standard (GS) Framework—would enable Vietnam to harness the full potential of its mangrove ecosystems for high-integrity blue carbon crediting.
- Integrating remote sensing and machine learning techniques with species-level classification data can significantly enhance the accuracy and robustness of blue carbon accounting in mangrove ecosystems.
Mangrove ecosystems mapping in parts of Ghana and The Gambia for sustainable regeneration and utilization
This study mapped mangrove vegetation and associated land use land cover types in Ghana and The Gambia using remote sensing and participatory geographic information system (PGIS) techniques. These coastal ecosystems are vital for shellfishery activities, yet mangrove loss threatens biodiversity, ecosystem functionality, and local livelihoods. Findings indicate that mangroves in Ghana are increasingly fragmented and declining, whereas in The Gambia, they remain extensive and stable, with distinct zonation of Rhizophora and Avicennia species. PGIS data highlight differences in how communities value mangrove species, shaping their management strategies. In Ghana, Avicennia species—more abundant in study sites—are primarily used for fuelwood and fish trap construction. Meanwhile, Rhizophora species dominate The Gambia’s sites, offering better oyster attachment due to their root structures, making them particularly valuable to shellfishing communities. Integrated findings from remote sensing and PGIS identified several drivers of mangrove degradation, including mangrove dieback, illegal harvesting, soil salinity, land-use changes, waste dumping, pollution, and climate change. Key lessons for sustainable mangrove co-management include implementing context-specific interventions that align with community livelihood needs, raising awareness, strengthening capacity-building efforts for conservation and restoration, and promoting livelihood diversification. Additionally, fostering an enabling policy environment—through strengthened co-management frameworks, improved governance, and enforcement mechanisms—will be crucial for sustainable mangrove conservation. This study underscores the value of integrated resource mapping and stakeholder engagement in validating results, ensuring that both users and managers actively participate in the conservation process.
Vietnam blue carbon opportunity assessment
Marine and coastal ecosystems, including mangroves and seagrass meadows, are global hotspots for “blue carbon” storage in vegetation and soils, but face mounting pressure from human activities and climate change. Mechanisms that mobilize foreign direct investment to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and enhance sustainable development, such as voluntary carbon projects, offer financing that can complement government efforts. We assessed blue carbon opportunities in Vietnam focusing on mangroves and seagrass in the Mekong Delta coastal provinces (Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ben Tre and Tien Giang). Object-based image analysis was used to quantify changes in the extent of mangroves from 2016 – 2024. To assess fluctuations in seagrass meadow areas we projected historical changes in seagrass coverage reported in the literature. Emissions of CO2 resulting from changes in mangrove forest and seagrass meadow coverages were estimated using literature-based emission factors. Overall, mangrove coverage in the Mekong Delta coastal provinces declined between 2016 and 2024, despite areas of mangrove expansion. CO2 removals from mangrove area increase did not offset CO2 emissions from mangrove loss during 2016–2024. Our analysis revealed substantial losses in some areas, highlighting the complex dynamics of mangrove conservation. The total net impact of mangrove loss and reforestation in the seven provinces during this period was 14.5 million Mg CO2, with Ca Mau province contributing 77% of emissions. The magnitude of potential CO2 emissions from seagrass loss was smaller, at 31.4 thousand Mg CO2, concentrated in the area of Phu Quoc Island in Kien Giang province. Our results emphasize the need to avoid continued conversion of mangroves, despite gains in mangrove forest areas.
Species-Poor Mangrove Forests also Provide Rich Ecosystem Goods and Services
Mangrove forests provide a wide range of services to coastal communities worldwide. These services include carbon sequestration and coastal protection, both of which are critical in the context of climate change. However, these wetlands are still experiencing destructive anthropogenic impacts in many areas. Senegal and Colombia, two countries in the Atlantic-East Pacific biogeographic region, both have abundant mangrove cover and share several mangrove species. This study assessed the use of mangrove resources (fuelwood, timber, and other non-timber forest products) by local communities in both countries. A total of 210 semi-structured ethnobotanical questionnaire-based interviews were conducted in Sokone and neighboring villages bordering the Sine-Saloum Delta in Senegal (110) and in the Cispata lagoon system in Colombia (100). The results for Senegal indicate that individuals residing near the Sine-Saloum Delta in neighboring villages rely more on mangroves compared to those living in Sokone. In Colombia, reliance on mangroves was associated with occupational activities. Despite lower species diversity compared to the Indo-West Pacific biogeographic region, mangroves provide various services in both areas, underscoring their significance to local communities and their livelihoods. Finally, the Indigenous and local knowledge emphasizes the need for alternatives to mangrove resources and the promotion of sustainable harvesting practices to ensure the conservation of mangroves and the continued provision of essential services.