CARBON STORAGE OF MANGROVE ECOSYSTEM IN NORTH SULAWESI AND ITS IMPLICATIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION ACTION

Abstract

North Sulawesi is one of the provinces that implements national / regional action plan (RAN / RAD) policies as part of a national effort to climate change mitigation. One of the land-based mitigation activities in North Sulawesi is to measure and monitore biomass and carbon stocks in forests including coastal forests where the measurement area is still limited. In 2013-2015, Blue Carbon Research Group conducted research in four locations in North Sulawesi, which aims to analyze the ecological conditions and the ability of coastal ecosystems, especially mangrove in sequestering carbon. Study sites situated in Ratatotok - Southeast Minahasa Regency, Kema - North Minahasa Regency, Lembeh Island – Bitung City and Sangihe Island – Sangihe Regency. A total of 17 species identified where B. gymnorrhiza, R. mucronata and S. alba found in all locations. Species diversity ranges from low to moderate, where species distribution is uneven. Carbon storage capacity is equal to 343.85 Mg C ha-1 in Ratatotok, 254,35 Mg C ha-1 in Lembeh, 387,95 Mg C ha-1 in Kema and 594,83 Mg C ha-1 in Sangihe. More than 59% of carbon storage are in the sediment. The average value of carbon storage in the four research sites is 456,86 Mg C ha-1 or 5,70 Tg C after converted to a total area of mangrove ecosystems in North Sulawesi. The value is equal to absorption of atmospheric CO2 by 20.70 Tg CO2e. Potential emission due to changes in mangrove conversion reach 0.42 Tg CO2e. Efforts to increase the contribution of reducing North Sulawesi emissions can be achieved by implementing emission reduction interventions through the rehabilitation and conservation of mangrove ecosystems.