Southeast Asia's blue carbon is diminishing! Here's what it means
Southeast Asia boasts significant reserves of blue carbon, stored within its expansive ocean systems. However, rampant human activity has led to substantial depletion of this vital resource. Mangroves and seagrass habitats, the primary blue carbon ecosystems in the region, have suffered particularly due to insufficient preservation efforts. Let us understand how the ability of its rich marine life to store carbon is gradually depleting.
What is blue carbon?
The oceanic ecosystem, encompassing phytoplankton, mangrove belts, and seagrasses, holds the capacity to sequester and store large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, playing a crucial role in mitigating climate change. These ecosystems that provide various ecological benefits can store up to five times more carbon than tropical forests. Nevertheless, this immense natural potential is swiftly diminishing due to rapid depletion.
Southeast Asia is among the largest reservoirs
Southeast Asia possesses one of the largest reservoirs of blue carbon. Mangroves and seagrass habitats stand out as the predominant blue carbon ecosystems. Mangroves, akin to coastal forests, flourish in the interface between land and sea, while seagrasses are submerged plants thriving in brackish and shallow waters. However, human activities such as aquaculture are causing significant depletion of this potential
Countries with the maximum share
Indonesia boasts more than a third of the world's mangroves, with other regions in the Asia-Pacific like Papua New Guinea and the Sunderbans between India and Bangladesh also featuring extensive mangrove belts. Many of the mangroves in Sumatra and Java, Indonesia, are rapidly being transformed into shrimp farming operations, and there is also a significant conversion occurring for palm oil cultivation.
What is leading to mangrove's depletion?
In numerous poverty-stricken areas, mangroves are often harvested for firewood, exacerbating their depletion. Even prosperous nations like Singapore have experienced significant losses of mangroves over time due to land reclamation for urbanization projects. Additionally, the impacts of climate change contribute to steady erosion of mangrove habitats. It is crucial to protect and foster marine systems for their potential.
The situation was highlighted 13 years ago
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recognized the potential for blue carbon in climate mitigation approximately 13 years ago. Since then, countries have been gradually acknowledging this valuable resource. However, there remains a significant need to raise awareness about the kinds of policies necessary to encourage more protection and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems.
Present course of action
The International Blue Carbon Institute, Singapore is urging countries to incorporate blue carbon ecosystems into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), a climate action plan to cut emissions. The institute organized workshops focused on policy and financing solutions for blue carbon, with support from the UK government and the Singapore National Climate Change Secretariat to scale the protection and restoration of blue carbon eco-systems globally.
