Asian Southeast Tosglares and Mangroves could be key to reducing carbon emissions

According to a new study, conserving and restoring the peat and mangroves of Southeast Asia could mitigate more than 50% of the soil use carbon emissions in the region. published in Nature communications.

Pedatland and Mangrove ecosystems represent only 5% of the land in Southeast Asia. But they play a huge role in reducing carbon emission. They store more than 90% of their carbon in the soils, instead of vegetation. This makes them among the most efficient natural carbon sinks worldwide.

Significant amounts of carbon are released in the atmosphere when these ecosystems are interrupted or destroyed through changes in the use of the Earth.

Dry periods, such as during an El Niño event, also result in massive carbon and mangrove emissions. In these periods, they also contribute to regional mist and lower air quality in the region.

“If we keep and restore dense boobs and mangroves in carbon in Southeast Asia, we could mitigate approximately 770 megatons of co₂ Equivalent annually, or almost double national emissions of greenhouse gases in Malaysia in 2023, “says the main author Massimo magnifying groups of the National University of Singapore.

Southeast Asia is the home of the largest tropical basles and mangroves in the world.

“Wetland soils can have little agronomic value, since it is generally not suitable for agriculture or traditional crop cultivation, but they have no partner in their ability to store and preserve carbon,” says Piere Taillardat of the Nanyang Technological University , Singapore.

“By investing in the conservation of peat and mangroves, Southeast Asia can lead the world in the implementation of nature -based profitable solutions that provide durable climatic and biodiversity benefits,” adds the first author sign sasemite of the James Cook University in Australia.

“These ecosystems have a climatic mitigation blow far beyond their size, offering one of the most scalable and shocking natural solutions to combat the climate crisis of the planet.”