A global dataset of soil organic carbon accumulation rate in coastal ecosystems

Coastal ecosystems are increasingly recognized as a crucial nature-based climate solution due to their remarkable capacity for carbon sequestration. However, the spatial distribution and quantification of soil organic carbon accumulation rate (OCAR) at the global scale remain limited. Here, we assemble an open global dataset of soil OCAR in coastal ecosystems from a systematic literature review. The dataset comprises 8,998 field observations from 247 peer-reviewed articles, encompassing four distinct ecosystem types (mangroves, salt marshes, seagrasses, and tidal flats). Furthermore, the dataset includes publication details of the source articles, geographical and ecological attributes of the sampling sites, and information for each observation. The dataset can be employed to more precisely quantify and map global coastal soil carbon sequestration capacity, enabling the development of global spatiotemporal prediction models. This dataset serves as a vital scientific foundation for informing management strategies of coastal ecosystems and guiding future carbon credit markets.