The role of mangroves in the fight against climate change
Daniel Murdiyarso
Who we are CIFOR is one of 15 centers that make up the CGIAR CIFOR is the lead center for the CGIAR Research Programme Forests, Trees
and Agroforestry (CRP6), in partnership with the World Agroforestry Centre, Bioversity and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture
Where we work
Burkina Faso Cameroon Ethiopia Zambia Brazil Indonesia
Headquarters: Bogor, Indonesia 8 regional & project offices
Research sites in more than 30 countries
Peru Kenya Vietnam
Why forests are important They make up 31% of the world’s land mass Forests provide $250 billion in various forms of income and are essential to
the livelihoods of 1.6 billion people – a quarter of the world’s population They contain 80% of the Earth’s terrestrial biodiversity Forests absorb up to a third of all carbon emissions
• Support numerous ecosystem services, including fisheries production, nutrient cycling, coast protection
• Globally cover 13.8 million ha; declined by 30–50% over the past half century due to coastal development, aquaculture expansion and over-harvesting
• Resulting carbon emissions of 0.02– 0.12 Pg per year (0.2-1.2 billion tons Carbon per year)
• Ten percent of global emissions due to deforestation of tropical forests (0.7% of total tropical forest area)
Mangroves forests
Harnessing forests, trees and agroforestry for climate change mitigation
Enhancing climate change adaptation
Understanding synergies between climate change mitigation and adaptation
Climate change adaptation and mitigation Research component
How to fight climate change?
Mitigation
Adaptation
Adaptation Mitigation
Climate change and variability
Impacts
Responses
Kyoto Protocol UNFCCC
Tropical Wetlands Initiatives for Climate Adaptation and Mitigation
(TWINCAM)
• Tested across Indo-Pacific region (30o Lat, 73o Long)
• Results have been peer-reviewed and published
Standardized Method
Sonneratia sp. Rhizophora sp.
Bruguiera sp. Avicennia sp.
Measuring stem diameter
From diameter to biomass
Kauffman and Cole (2010)
Woody debris
Fine : < 0.6 cm (count along 10-12 m)
Small : 0.6 - 2.5 cm (count along 7-10 m)
Medium : 2.5 - 7.5 cm (count along 2-7 m)
Large : >7.5 cm (measure, sound and rotten)
Soil carbon
Intervals: 0-15 cm, 15-30 cm, 30-50 cm, 50-100 cm, 100-300 cm
Ab
ove
gro
un
d0
200
400
Distance from Ocean (m)
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Be
low
gro
un
d
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Carb
on s
tock
(M
g h
a-1
)
Belowground pools
Aboveground pools
Roots
Soil
Down wood
Trees
Total C stock ( x Mg ha-1
):
863.3 891.9 1044.4 1038.8 1073.4 1047.8
Large belowground C-stocks
Indo-Pacific region (30o Lat, 73o Long)
Mangroves for CC mitigation New finding: Surprisingly large amounts of carbon stored in mangrove forests, especially below ground Mangrove photo
Source: Donato et al. (2011)
Global survey
Gabon Mozambique
Mexico Costa Rica Ecuador
Vietnam India
Bali Action Plan: REDD+
SFM
REDD
Conservation ECS
Source: Pedroni (2009)
A Reference Level is needed
Base Period Or Historical baseline
Crediting period = 35 years?
Reduced emissions
With REDD
Without REDD (BAU)
Fo
rest
carb
on
sto
cks
With REDD+
5 or 10 years?
Cancun Agreement: Phase approach
• REDD+ national strategy: follow UN-REDD and WB FCPF processes
• National reference level: sub-national reference level is accepted only temporary in while taking care of domestic leakage
• Forest monitoring system: to demonstrate additionality that includes environmental and social safeguards (UN-DRIP)
GHG emissions from Vietnam – 2000
Source: Vietnam SNC 2002
Mangroves: Providers of ecosystem services
Direct benefits to the community
The UNFCCC’s Adaptation Fund Board approved the first proposal
Joint CIFOR-CATIE research in Honduras on CC adaptation
We can do the same for Vietnam or SEA region
To mainstream CC adaptation in mangroves in development agenda
Adaptation agenda: window of opportunity
Financing Adaptation
• Adaptation Fund Board – Guidelines to access the fund
– Established accreditation panel
• Adaptation fund – available for LDCs
• Levy from CDM – 2%
• To date (March 2012) – Registered projects: 3887
– Issued CERs: 877 million
– Sale of CERs generate $ 18.7 million
• Expected CERs (2012): 2163 million
• Expected AF generated (2012): Euro 300 million
Mangroves = protective roles (low-laying coastlines)
• Species and rooting system
• Depending on the coastal topography
Sequester and store large amount of carbon
Adaptation to CC-related sea level rise
Adaptation Strategy for Mangroves
Beach erosion leading to ecosystems loss
The Sundarbands
• The world's largest remaining single block of mangrove forest
• Appr. 1 Mha (10,000 km2)
• Delta front has undergone a net erosion of ~170 km2 of coastal land in the past 37 years study period
Source: Rahman et al. (2011)
The world mangroves
1 m sea level rise
Concluding remarks
• Mangroves ecosystem have a huge potential for CC adaptation and mitigation
• Climate change mitigation (CDM, REDD+) has been widely recognized
• Putting back CC adaptation is necessary for countries with low-laying coastal zones like Vietnam
• Financially it is funded by public; the mechanism should attract private sector to get involved