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Mangroves and Coastal Acidification

Adele Mongeau, intern at GRID-Arendal

By Blue Forests Project

July 4^th, 2016

A recent study undertaken in six pristine mangrove tidal creeks on Australian coastline has highlighted the possible link between mangroves forests and their roles to drive and buffer the coastal acidification. Are mangroves drivers or buffers of coastal acidification?

According to the article, published in the Global Biogeochemical cycles last May 16 "the effect of the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and alkalinity exports created a measurable localized increase in coastal ocean ph. Therefore, mangroves can partially counteract coastal acidification in adjacent tropical waters". The results of this study showed that "the net effect of the estimated DIC and alkalinity exports from mangroves has the potential to increase coastal ocean ph. Due to lower alkalinity inputs from riverine and benthic sources in the tropics, mangrove-derived alkalinity exports may be one of the largest sources of alkalinity to the tropical coastal ocean and provide a localized buffering effect against costal acidification."

This mangrove ecosystem service might be a new entry in the fight against ocean acidification which can promote and support the implementation of different projects related to mangroves. It can also help to develop new policies in the coastal marine or in the forestry sector to protect and manage mangrove forests.