Anthropogenic Drivers of Mangrove Loss and Associated Carbon Emissions in South Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

The Air Telang Protected Forest (ATPF) is one of the most dynamic and essential coastal forest landscapes in South Sumatra, Indonesia, because of its location between multiple river outlets, including the Musi catchment—Sumatra’s largest and most dense lowland catchment area. While most ATPF areas are covered by mangroves, these areas have been experiencing severe anthropogenic-driven degradation and conversion. This study aims to evaluate land cover changes and associated carbon emissions in the ATPF over a 35-year period (1985–2020) by utilizing the available Landsat and Sentinel imagery from 1985, 2000, and 2020. Throughout the analysis period, we observed 63% (from 10,886 to 4059 ha) primary and secondary forest loss due to land use change. We identified three primary anthropogenic activities driving these losses, namely, land clearing for plantations and agriculture (3693 ha), coconut plantations (3315 ha), aquaculture (245 ha). We estimated that the largest carbon emissions were caused by coconut plantation conversion, with total carbon emissions of approximately 14.14 Mt CO2-eq. These amounts were almost 4 and 21 times higher than emissions from land clearing and aquaculture, respectively, as substantial soil carbon loss occurs once mangroves get transformed into coconut plantations. While coconut plantation expansion on mangroves could generate significant carbon stock losses and cleared forests become the primary candidate for restoration, our dataset could be useful for future land-based emission reduction policy intervention at a subnational level. Ultimately, our findings have direct implications for current national climate policies, through low carbon development strategies and emission reductions from the land use sector for 2030, as outlined in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Vegetation and macrozoobenthos diversity in the Percut Sei Tuan mangrove forest, North Sumatra, Indonesia

“…The diversity index in a community greatly influences the number of individuals and species in the community. Eddy et al (2021) claimed that species diversity in a community would be high if the community consisted of several species and no species was dominant. Conversely, if a community has a low diversity value, then it will consist of species and additionally, there will be a dominant species.…”

Karakteristik Biofisik Perairan Laut, Sosial Dan Ekonomi Pendukung Pengembangan Ekowisata Bahari Di Taman Nasional Kepulauan Togean

“…Jenis dan sumber bahan pencemar tersebut dapat mempengaruhi kualitas perairan [9] dan keberadaan sumber daya alam (terumbu karang dan mangrove) yang dijadikan sebagai obyek wisata. Penurunan kualitas dan kuantitas sumber daya terumbu karang dan mangrove [10] sebagai faktor biofisik akan berdampak pada penurunan daya tarik (attractiveness) dan minat berwisata ke Gugus Pulau Togean. Parameter fisik dan kimia yang telah melampaui ambang batas (baku mutu) yang ditetapkan baik pada kunjungan kurang maupun kunjungan puncak perlu diupayakan untuk direhabilitasi dan pencegahan semaksimal mungkin sehingga perairan pantai menjadi aman untuk berenang dan menyelam [11].…”

Genetic Diversity and Mating System of Two Mangrove Species (Rhizophora apiculata and Avicennia marina) in a Heavily Disturbed Area of China

“…Mangrove ecosystems are some of the world's most biodiverse and productive forest ecosystems [3], and they provide important ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, wave attenuation, and refuges for organisms [4,5]. Despite the high social, economic, and ecological value of mangroves, they have been severely degraded due to anthropogenic activities [6,7], climate change [8], and stochastic events [9]. For example, many mangroves have been converted to nursery areas for fishery species and play a critically important role in sustaining production in coastal fisheries [10].…”