Mangrove forests have a role as an absorber of carbon dioxide (CO2) from air and sea therefore they play an important role in mitigating climate change. The problems that exist today are the decline in the area of mangrove forests due to the conversion of land functions into ponds, and development in coastal areas. Decrease of mangrove forest areas can lead to reduced its ability to absorb and storage carbon dioxide (CO2). The purposes of this study were to analyze litter carbon content of mangrove leaf litter in the mangrove forest of Pontoh Village, Wori District, North Minahasa Regency and estimate the carbon content (C) in mangrove litter per hectare per year. Based on the results of the analysis, the total average percentage of carbon content in mangrove litter in Ponto Village, Wori District, North Minahasa Regency was 29.71% C/day, and from the estimation results, the average carbon content (C) in mangrove litter is 3.68 tons/ha/year.
Key Word: mangrove, litter, carbon content
ABSTRAK
Hutan mangrove memiliki peran sebagai penyerap karbondioksida (CO2) dari udara sehingga berperan penting untuk mitigasi perubahan iklim. Permasalahan yang ada saat ini yaitu berkurangnya luas kawasan hutan mangrove akibat pengalihan fungsi lahan menjadi tambak, dan pembangunan di kawasan pesisir. Apabila berkurangnya kawasan hutan mangrove maka dapat menyebabkan berkurangnya sumber penyerapan dan penyimpanan karbodioksida (CO2). Adapun tujuan dari penelitian ini yaitu untuk menganalisis kandungan karbon pada serasah daun mangrove hutan mangrove Desa Lansa, Kecamatan Wori, Kabupaten Minahasa Utara dan mengestimasi Kandungan Karbon (C) pada serasah mangrove per luasan hektar per tahun. Berdasarkan hasil analisis didapatkan total rata-rata persentase kandungan karbon serasah mangrove di Desa Ponto, Kecamatan Wori, Kabupaten Minahasa Utara yakni sebesar 29,71% C/hari, serta dari hasil estimasi didapatkan rata-rata kandungan karbon (C) pada serasah mangrove sebesar 3,68 ton/ha/tahun.
Kata Kunci: mangrove, serasah, kandungan karbon