Carbon stock estimation of Sonneratia alba in mangrove restoration area in Pasar Rawa, Langkat North Sumatera

Abstract

Mangrove forests must be protected because they are an important ecosystem for climate mitigation. Mangrove forests are one of the “blue carbon” ecosystems capable of absorbing significantly more carbon than terrestrial forests. Mangrove restoration is being carried out in various regions as part of an effort to rehabilitate damaged ecosystems, one of which being Pasar Rawa Village in Langkat Regency. Sonneratia alba is a native plant that is employed in restoration activities. The purpose of this study is to investigate carbon stock in the S. alba monoculture restoration area in Pasar Rawa Village, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra Province. Purposive sampling was employed in this study, with plots distributed evenly around the research area. Carbon stock estimation is performed non-destructively by estimating carbon estimates based on diameter at breast height (DBH) and total height of trees. According to the research findings, the total carbon stored in the Sonneratia alba restoration area is quite low, at 60.89 ton.ha−1. S. alba produced 192.13 ton.ha−1 of absorbed carbon with CO2 absorption of 19212.84 g/m2 and so was classified as low.