A Non-destructive Rapid Assessment of Blue Carbon Sequestration Potential in Mangrove Forests of the Red Sea Region | ||||
| Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries | ||||
| Article 35, Volume 28, Issue 1, January and February 2024, Page 1119-1152 PDF (3.2 MB) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejabf.2024.339764 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Author | ||||
| Esraa Aziz El-Masry | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Non-destructive approaches for estimating the carbon sequestration potential of mangroves are growing in acceptance, as they are eco-friendly and do not harm trees. The present study was piloted for mangroves, especially the Avicennia marina of the Red Sea region. The study aimed to use allometric models for mangrove biomass estimation based on the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) derived from satellite imagery. The method was validated by comparing the results with the previous studies that adopted the destructive method. To achieve the study aim, three major steps were adopted; namely, (1) Mangrove mapping using satellite imagery, (2) Calculation of carbon sequestration potential by applying the allometric equations, and (3) Mangrove sediments sampling and analysis were carried out in three stations along the Egyptian coast to determine soil organic carbon stock. Results from the study revealed that mangroves grew at 56 locations along the Red Sea coast. The results of the present study showed that the average carbon stock value for the Red Sea mangroves was 0.33 (ton C/ hectare) (1.2 ton CO2/ hectare). Thus, the Red Sea mangroves can share by at least USD 27.5M value of mangrove forest ecosystem services. Middle station on the Saudi Arabia coast was found to be the most carbon-rich mangrove region with 26.9 ton C/ hectare, while one station in northern Egypt recorded the lowest carbon sequestration potential, with a total carbon stock of 0.06 ton C/ hectare. Therefore, the current study suggested that the satellite imagery analysis combined with allometric equations can be applied far more rapidly and inaccessibly compared to traditional field inventory techniques, and it can potentially be an effective tool for estimating mangrove biomass and carbon storage with increased accuracy through further model calibration. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Above ground biomass (AGB); Below ground biomass (BGB); Allometric equation; Remote sensing; Avicennia marina | ||||
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