Significant reduction of carbon stocks and changes of ecosystem service valuation of Indian Sundarban

Abstract

The Sundarban mangrove or tidal influenced natural ecosystem is extremely productive and providing multiple goods and services to millions of people. In the last few decades, the quality and quantity of mangrove ecosystem are being deteriorated. The main objectives of this current research are (i) to investigate the ecosystem service values (ESVs) using a time series satellite data (1975, 2000 and 2020) and different unit values (ii) to analyze the dynamic pattern of carbon sequestration through InVEST model and (iii) determination of ESVs change hotspots by Getis-Ord Gi* method. Here, mangrove forest has the highest ecosystem service value and highest carbon sinker. The total loss of ESVs was estimated 3310.79 million USD during last 45 years in Sundarban Biosphere Reserve (SBR) due to high natural and anthropogenic adversities. InVEST model also revealed that the total static carbon storage over the study area was 48.87, 46.65 and 43.33 Tg for the year 1975, 2000 and 2020 respectively. Total 6313944 mg/6.31Tg loss of carbon has been observed in the case of mangrove forest during the overall study period (1975–2020). So, illegal human encroachment should be strictly (through law and regulations) restricted within Sundarban mangrove ecosystem for the benefits of people.

Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Melalui Kegiatan Pembibitan dan Penanaman Mangrove di Pantai Salurang, Kepulauan Sangihe

“…Secara ekologi, hutan mangrove melindungi pantai dan wilayah pesisir dari abrasi, terjangan gelombang maupun angin badai serta mampu menyerap karbon (Bacmid et al, 2019;Sondak, 2015) dengan kemampuan serapan berkali lipat dibandingkan dengan penyerap karbon utama lainnya seperti lamun dan hutan (Murdiyaso et al, 2020). Menurut perkiraan, hutan mangrove memiliki nilai layanan ekosistem tertinggi, berkisar 8498-9990 US dollar per tahun (Bera et al, 2022). Secara biologi, tumbuhan yang mampu hidup pada kadar salinitas tinggi ini menjadi habitat dan tempat perkembangbiakan beragam organisme daratan maupun laut.…”

Variations in Soil Blue Carbon Sequestration between Natural Mangrove Metapopulations and a Mixed Mangrove Plantation: A Case Study from the World’s Largest Contiguous Mangrove Forest

“…The rest of the islands were conserved and is the last remaining frontier for enigmatic mangrove forest dwelling Royal Bengal Tigers. However, blue carbon stocks are reducing across the Sundarban mangrove ecosystem [ 6 , 9 ]. Mangroves in an average can sequester of 1023 Mg C per hectare.…”

“…Mangroves in an average can sequester of 1023 Mg C per hectare. Studies demonstrate that Sundarban’s mangrove ecosystem can sequester approximately 4.71–6.54 Mg C ha −1 year −1 C [ 6 , 9 ]. However, land conversions and climate change impacts are destabilizing both ecological functions and services at Indian Sundarbans.…”

“…However, land conversions and climate change impacts are destabilizing both ecological functions and services at Indian Sundarbans. Research by Bera et al revealed an approximate 6,313,944 mg/6.31 Tg loss of C at Sundarbans between 1975 and 2020 [ 9 ].…”

Assessment of ecosystem service value variation over land use/land cover dynamics in the Beles River Basin, Ethiopia

“…Ecosystem services (ES) are the bene ts that people receive from the environment, whether consciously or unconsciously, and directly or indirectly, for their well-being, survival, health, and economic growth (Acharya et al, 2019;Burkhard & Maes, 2017;Costanza et al, 1997;Costanza et al, 2017). These are categorized into provisioning services (food, feed, ber, water supply), regulating services (water, climate, erosion control, and sediment retention), and cultural services (recreational, aesthetic, and spiritual) that directly bene t people, whereas supporting services (soil formation, photosynthesis, and nutrient cycling) are the core for the muster of all other services (Bera et al, 2022;Biratu et al, 2022;Costanza et al, 2017;Kindu et al, 2016;Rotich et al, 2022).…”