Evaluating the Role of Coastal Wetlands in Climate Resilience and Carbon Sequestration

Abstract

Mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass meadows are the coastal wetlands with significant carbon sequestration potential that allows strengthening of climate resilience and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A comparison is made in terms of their ecological functions, carbon storage services, and protective services in the three largest wetland ecosystems, namely Sundarbans, Niger Delta, and the Everglades. They were quantified using a mixed-methods study that involved remote sensing analysis, field-based carbon stock estimation and socio-economic analysis to quantify their mitigation and adaptation contributions. Findings show that the rates at which these ecosystems contain carbon are higher than terrestrial forests with soil organic carbon hosting most of the carbon stocks. Also, wetlands dampen a great proportion of wave power, decrease flood loss, and are economically helpful in shielding coastal settlements. However, these inherits are polluted by dangerous patterns of wetland degradation that are caused by anthropogenic impact and changes in climate. The results point to the dire need to include coastal wetlands in national climate policies, restoration programs, and carbon finance schemes. The research makes a positive contribution to the study of wetlands as nature-based climate solutions and their strategic implication to the development of sustainable development and the goals of climate change