The economic evaluation of carbon storage and sequestration as ecosystem services of mangroves: a case study from southeastern Brazil

Abstract

Although mangroves are recognized by high capacity of carbon storage and sequestration, few studies have been dedicated to determine the monetary value of this ecosystem service. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to assign monetary values to this service in a protected area (Southeastern Brazil). This economic valuation was performed considering preexisting estimates of carbon storage and sequestration in the aboveground biomass of these forests and average transaction values of carbon credits. The mean values of the service of carbon sequestration varied according to the physiographic type from 19.00 ± 10.00 US$ ha−1 yr−1 (basin forests, high intertidal) to 82.28 ± 32.10 US$ ha−1 yr−1 (fringe forests, low intertidal). Considering the area occupied by each physiographic type, the service of carbon sequestration may be worth up to 455,827 US$ yr−1. In regard to carbon storage, 3,477,041 US$ are stored in these forests, and values between 104,311 and 208,622 US$ ha−1 yr−1 can be considered as the annual maintenance cost of this service. The income generated by future projects for the maintenance of carbon-related functions may represent a major advance for the conservation of this ecosystem.