Blue Carbon Prototype Products for Mangrove Methane and Carbon Dioxide Fluxes (BLUEFLUX)

The Caribbean hosts the third largest amount of coastal wetlands, including mangroves, marshes and sea grasses in the World, after Indonesia and Australia. These 'Blue Carbon' ecosystems are among the most carbon dense and productive ecosystems on the planet, with a disproportionate storage of carbon in their wetland soils. The Caribbean has reported soil carbon stocks that reach up to 1130 Mg/ha, 2 m of soil organic deposits, and more than 10 times the carbon stored. Frequently considered as wastelands, these ecosystems have been heavily transformed by the tourist industry and lucrative aquaculture initiatives in the Caribbean. The Caribbean and its Blue Carbon ecosystems offer a timing opportunity to run a pilot study for large scale GHG monitoring (particularly CO2 and CH4) since they are affected by key climatic drivers such as El Nino-La Nina influences but the region has long been suffering from large human impacts (soil removal for aquaculture, infrastructure development) and is now suffering from a significant increase in the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones with yet unaccounted effects on regional GHG dynamics due to soil removal and hydrological disruptions.

Scholars @ ECU