Working Report on the Landscape-Scale Analysis of Carbon Sequestration Potential in the Merlimau Mangrove Forest, Malaysia

This study was conducted for the JIRCAS Working Report and is based primarily on Azman et al. (2025).The global reduction of mangrove forests, due primarily to changes in land use, contributes to carbon emissions worldwide.However, the specific impact of mangrove deforestation on carbon release remains uncertain.Only a limited number of studies have quantified the effects of mangrove deforestation on the carbon budget, particularly at the landscape scale.This study evaluates carbon stocks, losses, and emissions resulting from the conversion of mangrove ecosystems and assesses how these changes affect the carbon budget using sequestration rates for the Merlimau-Kuala Sebatu landscape.Field surveys were conducted across various mangrove types, including intact forests and naturally regenerated areas of different ages.The results indicate that the total ecosystem carbon stock in clear-cut sites was 149.06 7.56 Mg C ha -1 , compared to 280.65 16.92 Mg C ha -1 in intact sites; however, this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).Using the stockchange method, carbon emissions were estimated to be 482.93Mg CO2e ha -1 , among the lowest recorded for tropical land-use change.Notably, the carbon budget at the landscape scale remained positive, with a net gain of 2835 Mg C yr -1 , largely due to the carbon sink potential and the expansion of naturally regenerated mangroves in intact areas (796 Mg C yr -1 ).A deforestation threshold of 75% was identified, beyond which the carbon budget approaches neutrality.These results highlight the importance of conserving intact mangrove forests and sustainably managing regenerated areas, as younger mangroves help sequester carbon and reduce emissions from deforestation.