Assesment of Sequestration Potential and Biomass Accumulation of Managed Mangrove Plantations of Mida Creek, Kilifi County Kenya

Author(s): Ogola Kevin Omollo, Najma Dharani, Benard’s Okeyo

Mangrove forests play a very significant role along the coastal environment throughout the tropical coast. They provide ecosystem services that are able to sustain both flora and faunal organisms found in such ecosystems. They are store large quantities of carbon in their biomass hence referred to as carbon sinks. This carbon can be emitted into the atmosphere when mangrove forests are degraded through unsustainable utility. The main objective of this study is to quantify the amount of carbon sequestered by the managed mangrove forest of the Mida Creek, Kenya. Three sites were selected for this study; Kibusa Plantation, Green Island Plantation, and a Natural Stand. Plots of (10 x10) m2 were selected in each study site. Three carbon pools were investigated; aboveground carbon, belowground carbon, and soil organic carbon. Biomass for carbon determination in Kibusa and Natural Stands was estimated using a general equation. Mean total carbon stocks in Kibusa and Green Island Plantations was 424.52±11.68 Mg C/ha and 958.57±50.01 Mg C/ha while the natural stand contained significantly higher total Carbon stocks of 2159.77±31.09 Mg C/ha (ANOVA, F0.05(1),2,6 = 262.91, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the amount of soil organic carbon among the three different sites (F0.05(1),2,15=0.35, p>0.05). This study indicates that reforestation enhances structural development of replanted mangroves and that replanted mangroves are significant carbon stores. From these results, we can deduce that awareness should be raised among the community members on the need for conservation and management which will increase the amount of carbon sequestered since more mangroves increase the rate of carbon (IV) oxide capture. This will help in mitigating the issue of global warming at local levels.