Research Journal of Chemistry and Environment__________________________________________Vol.

21 (8) August (2017)

Res. J. Chem. Environ.

Mangrove ecosystem C-stocks of Lamongan, Indonesia

and its correlation with forest age
Asadi Muhammad Arif*, Guntur Guntur, Adam Brian Ricky, Putri Novianti and Isdianto Andik
Department of Marine Science, Brawijaya University, Malang 65145, INDONESIA
*[email protected]

Abstract rapidly expanding aquaculture industry, agriculture and

Mangrove forests are extremely productive ecosystems infrastructure development29,32 as well as potentially
that provide a wide range of ecosystem services impacted by sea level rise21.
including a globally significant carbon (C) storage.
Mitigation actions such as rehabilitation and restoration have
However, the forests and their habitats have degraded
been increased in many regions which are intended to
as result of expanding agriculture, aquaculture enhance the adaptive capacity of mangrove ecosystem that
industry and coastal development. The threats diminish have been degraded, damaged, or destroyed8. Ecosystem
their C sequestration capacities; consequently, C services such as shoreline stabilization and tourism benefits
stored in the habitats would also be released, have been considered as conservation and preservation
increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the goals22,37. Several recent projects have also included carbon
atmosphere. The purpose of this study was to estimate sequestration as the objective of project-based restoration to
the ecosystem C-stocks of the mangrove forests of improve mangroves for climate change mitigation37. The
Lamongan, Indonesia and to assess the correlation UN-REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and
between ecosystem C stocks and forest age. Sampling forest Degradation) initiatives, for example, promote
projects in developing countries to reduce forest emissions
was carried out at 12 quadrat plots in four distinct
and increase the carbon stocks of the forests3.
areas to determine the biomass of above- and below-
ground trees, downed deadwood, saplings and Mangrove forests have the capacity to mitigate climate
seedlings, and soil C stocks. change via carbon (C) sequestration and storage, particularly
in soil. They have been reported to store up to three times
On average, the mangrove ecosystems of Lamongan more organic C per equivalent area than terrestrial forest9
stored 261.81 ± 43.82 Mg C ha-1. The youngest (± and mangroves are also known as one important form of
15year-old) and the oldest (± 100year-old) forest coastal blue carbon17. The threat to and destruction of
stored 167 ± 22.9, and 349.95 ± 106.5 Mg C ha-1 mangrove habitats induce the release of carbon stored in the
respectively, which significantly correlated with the habitat and increase levels of greenhouse gases in the
forest ages. The %C of soil increased with depth and atmosphere9.
46% of ecosystem C stocks was stored in the soil. As
Indonesia has the largest extent of mangrove forests in the
the soil was only sampled from the depth of 0-30 cm, world with an area of 3 million hectares representing 23% of
the soil and ecosystem C stocks value could be much global mangrove ecosystems13. Murdiyarso et al28 reported
higher than the estimation. These findings suggest that that Indonesia’s mangrove forests store C more than five
the mangrove forests of Lamongan store a substantial times higher than upland tropical forests and ecosystem C
amount of C; therefore, it is necessary to protect and stocks mangroves from some areas of Indonesia are
sustainably manage them to minimize the estimated on average 1,083 ± 378 MgC ha-1. Meanwhile, the
anthropogenic threat. Indo-Pacific region stores C stocks on average 1,023 MgC
ha-1. Moreover, Indonesia's mangroves hold one-third of the
Keywords: Mangrove carbon, C stocks, Lamongan, soil global coastal carbon31. The objective of this current study
carbon, mangrove ecosystem. was to quantify the C stocks of fringe and riverine
mangroves of Lamongan, East Java, Indonesia. While
Introduction Carbon stocks have been estimated for some extensive
Mangrove forests are ecotone ecosystems found in most mangroves of Indonesia28, there are no studies of Indonesian
tropical and subtropical tidelands throughout the world20. mangroves that have quantified the C stocks of fragmented
Mangroves are productive ecosystems that provide valuable mangrove forests and have studied the relation between
ecosystem goods and services both to the environment and ecosystem C stocks and forest age.
human well-being. Yet, mangroves only comprise a small
portion of the earth’s surface: 0.7% of global tropical Study area
forests13 and 0.5% of the world’s coastal areas2. These Lamongan is located at the northern west of East Java and
mangroves have disappeared with alarming speed due to the known as part of the Surabaya Metropolitan Area. The
length of the Lamongan coastline is approximately 47 km,
* Author for Correspondence bordered by the Java Sea. The area has a tropical savannah

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 Research Journal of Chemistry and Environment__________________________________________Vol. 21 (8) August (2017)
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climate, humid with temperature averages of 27.4 °C and ground tree carbon pool, CDW = downed deadwood carbon
precipitation averages of 1465 mm24. The tidal regime of this pool, CLS = mangrove litters and seedlings carbon pools,
area is diurnal with a range of between 0.9 at neap tide and CSOIL = total soil carbon pool and Nplots = the number of
2.1 at spring tide15. The coastal area of Lamongan once had quadrat plots in each location.
extensive natural mangrove forests across its coastline and
riverine estuary. The rapidly expanding shrimp and milkfish The mature mangroves with diameter > 5 cm were identified
aquaculture industry, charcoal and timber production and according to Giesen et al12 to determine the species
coastal development have reduced the mangrove forests in composition and structure of trees and to measure height (H)
this area. Our satellite data survey showed that the mangrove and diameter breast height (DBH) for subsequent
forests of Lamongan between 2010 and 2016 decreased quantification of the trees’ biomass. DBH of Rhizophora
slightly from 94.1 ha to 91 ha. species was determined by measuring the trunk diameter at
30 cm above the highest prop root, meanwhile the DBH of
The mangrove forests of Lamongan are fragmented into Bruguiera species was 30 cm above the buttress. For the
smaller patches of habitat along the coastline. The other species, the DBH was measured at 130 cm above
mangroves are located in average 32m-wide strip along the ground1. The Allometric equations for A. marina were 0.308
coast and river estuary. The forests are mostly separated by x D2.11 (diameter at the DBH, cm) and 1.28 x D1.17 for the
a large pond levee on the landward side behind which are biomass of standing above-ground (AGB) and below-
aquaculture ponds, followed by a highly populated urban or ground (BGB) respectively7. Meanwhile, allometric
agriculture area. equations from indo pacific mangroves by Komiyama et al19
were used for other mangrove species [(0.251 x ρ (wood
The study was conducted on March 2016 during the end of density of the species, g cm-3) x D2.46 and 0.199 x ρ0.899 x D2.22
the rain season. For a chrono-sequence study of mangrove C for AGB and BGB respectively)]. In order to estimate carbon
stocks, we sampled four distinct sites along Lamongan stock per area (Mg C ha-1), the biomass was multiplied by
coastline: Kandang Semangkon (KSM), Muara Bengawan the commonly used C concentration of 0.47 and 0.39 for
Solo Sedayu (MBS), Labuhan Timur (LTM), Pantai Kutang AGB and BGB respectively17.
(PTK). KSM had the oldest natural mangrove forest,
approximately a 100-year-old forest while PTK was the Furthermore, the downed deadwood was measured by using
second oldest mangrove area consisting of an approximately the line intercept technique which required measurement of
70-year-old natural forest. The LTM station had an the diameter of each downed deadwood to determine the
approximately 20-year-old naturally regenerated mangrove volume of the wood for subsequent downed deadwood
forest and the area had once been an extensive mangrove biomass estimation (WDW) which was the multiplication of
forest. MBS had the youngest mangroves, approximately 15 the volume of downed deadwood (V) and tree “specific
years old on average. The riverine estuary of MBS is a gravity” (1.05 g cm3). Meanwhile, inside each 10 x 10 m
manmade canal constructed during the late of 1990s to quadrat, a smaller nested quadrat plot (1 x 1 m) was applied
redirect the Solo River into the Java Sea. Mangroves were to obtain all recently fallen mangrove litters and mangrove
planted by local communities and authorities between 2000 seedlings that had a height of < 1.37 m. The samples were
and 2002 in this area. Geographic coordinates, substrates, then dried in an oven at 60 ⁰C for 4 days to determine
mangrove species and vegetation types of research areas are mangrove litters and seedlings’ dry weight (WLS). The tree
summarized in table 1. volume (𝑚3ℎ𝑎−1 ) allometric equation was:
𝜋 2 x ((𝑑12 + 𝑑22 + 𝑑𝑖2)/8*L)
Methods
Field design, mangroves structure, biomass, and carbon where d1, d2, etc. = diameters of intersecting pieces of large
pool: We estimated above- and below-ground biomass, deadwood (cm), L = the length of the transect line for large
downed deadwood biomass, mangrove litters and seedlings size class (m). The biomass then was multiplied by the
biomass and soil C pools by adopting protocols for commonly used C concentration of 0.45 and 0.50 for WDW
mangrove ecosystem C stocks assessment by Komiyama et and WLS respectively5,17.
al19 and Kauffman and Donato16. The field design of the
surveys was simple random sampling in which three quadrat C soil assessments: The vertical distribution of soil organic
plots of size 10 x 10m were applied in each mangrove forest carbon was sampled from the 1x1 m quadrat plots, the same
parallel to the coastline. The total ecosystem C stock in each quadrat plots used to collect mangrove litters and seedlings.
quadrat plot and site were calculated using the following Samples were collected from undisturbed parts of the
forms: quadrat plots by inserting PVC cores with a diameter of 10
cm to a maximum depth of 30 cm during low tide condition.
Ecosystem C stock (CEplot) = CAG + CBG + CDW + CLS + CSOIL
The sample of each core was sliced in depth intervals of 0-
CEsite = ƩCEplot / Nplots 10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm. The samples were stored
separately in sealed and labelled plastic bags and packed in
where CEplot = total ecosystem carbon stock from the plot, ice. In total, we collected 36 sediment samples for laboratory
CAG = above-ground carbon pools of tree, CBG = below- analysis.
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The sediments were dried using a Memmert drying oven at only species found to be dominating the mangrove forest in
60 ⁰C until a constant weight was achieved. To determine KSM and PTK with an IVI of 300%. However, in the MBS
bulk density (g 𝑐𝑚−3 ), the oven-dried mass (gram) of each and LTM, the highest values of IVI of mangroves with
sample was divided by the volume (cm3) of the interval16. DBH> 10 cm belonged to B. gymnorhiza with an IVI of
Prior to further analysis, a subset of 25-gram soil from each 133% and 125% respectively. Meanwhile, in the DBH
sample was ground and passed through a sieve to separate between 5 and 10 cm, the mangroves that had the highest
inorganic debris and analysed for % organic C which was contribution in MBS and LTM were R. mucronata (158%)
determined using the loss-on-ignition (LOI) method. The and B. gymnorhiza (140 %) respectively (figure 1).
soil was placed in a ceramic crucible, then heated to 400 ⁰C
overnight. Furthermore, we found that the species relative frequency of
mangroves varied in MBS and LTM while the highest values
The soil was then cooled in a desiccator and weighed. The were R. mucronata (37%) and B. gymnorhiza (44.5%)
amount of % organic matter was calculated as the difference respectively. In contrast, the older forest, KSM and PTK,
between the initial and final soil weights divided by the had a species relative frequency of 100% R. apiculata.
initial soil weight times 100%. A conversion factor of 1.724 Meanwhile, the mean of trees’ density in the 15-year old
was then used to convert organic matter to organic C16,34. mangroves forest, MBS, was the highest among other areas
Soil C stock (Mg C ha-1) was the estimation of bulk density (4167 ± 1206 ha-1), which was significantly different from
(g 𝑐𝑚−3 ) X C content (%) X depth interval (cm)29. In order that average density of trees in KSM, LTM and PTK
to assess particle size distribution, each sample was (Tukey’s multiple comparisons test p < 0.05). The MBS also
separated using a sieve shaker to be classified using the had the smallest average DBH (6.4 ± 2.2 cm) that was
Wentworth scale. significantly different from that average DBH of other areas
(two-way anova p < 0.05).
Results
Forest structure and biomass: A total of 171 sample trees
The mean of AGB (above-ground biomass) and BGB
representing five true mangrove species namely: A. marina,
(below-ground biomass) from allometric equations in the
R. apiculata, R. mucronata, B. gymnorhiza, and B.
oldest mangrove forest, KSM, was 302.24 ± 163.2 and
parviflora, belonging to two families were recorded at the
144.53 ± 44.02 Mg ha-1 respectively which was the highest
mangrove areas of Lamongan for the DBH and species
among other areas but was not significantly different from
determination. R. apiculata represented 81% of mangroves
that of AGB and BGB of mangroves of PTK (288.12 ± 12.56
with DBH higher than 10 cm but in the DBH between 5 and
and 135.28 ± 0.79 Mg ha-1 respectively; Tukey’s multiple
10 cm, the species only comprised 35% of total mangroves
comparisons test showed p = 0.608 and 0.862 for AGB and
found in the all sampling areas. R. apiculata was also the
BGB respectively).
Table 1
Plot distribution, hydro-geomorphic setting and location characteristic
Site Latitude Longitude Hydro- Substrate
geomorphic (Wentworth size
setting class)
KSM 6°51'55.7"S 112°19'23.8"E Fringe mangroves Coarse sand
MBS 6°53'05.3"S 112°16'05.0"E Riverine Medium sand
mangroves
LTM 6°52'19.6"S 112°14'10.5"E Fringe mangroves Coarse sand
PTK 6°53'16.7"S 112°11'30.7"E Fringe mangroves Coarse sand

Fig. 1: Important value index (%) of mangrove trees with DBH 5-10 cm (left) and DBH> 10 cm (right).
IVI (%) indicates the structural importance of each species in the community.
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Table 2
Species relative frequency and vegetation structure in each research station location
Forest structure

Site Species relative DBH Density AGB BGB DDWB Litters B Seedlings total B
frequency (cm) (trees (Mg (Mg (Mg (Mg B (Mg (Mg
ha-1) ha-1) ha-1) ha-1) ha-1) ha-1) ha-1)

KSM Ra (100%) 15.2 (3.5) 2000 (400) 302.24 144.53 10.61 1.18 1.36 (0.21) 459.92
(100 yrs) (163.2) (44.02) (1.82) (0.11) (209.36)

MBS Ra (12%), Rm 6.4 (2.2) 4167 60.01 83.64 0 0.98 1.19 (0.17) 145.82
(15 yrs) (37%), Am (28%), (1206) (14.64) (19.36) (0.18) (34.35)
Bg (22%)
LTM Ra (28.2%), Rm 9.98 2433 (58) 98.62 55.18 8.16 1 (0.24) 1 (0.36) 163.96
(20 yrs) (20.1%), Bg (3.02) (26.16) (12.33) (4.12) (19.66)
(44.5%), Bp (7.14
%)
PTK Ra (100 %) 12.97 2500 (100) 288.12 135.28 9.14 0.75 0 433.29
(70 yrs) (1.89) (12.56) (0.79) (3.92) (0.06) (18.02)
DBH, Density, AGB, BGB, DDWB, litter biomass, seedling biomass, and total biomass are reported as averages (±SE) for each site.
Ra: Rhizophora apiculata, Rm: Rhizopora mucronata, Bg: Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Bp: Bruguiera parviflora, Am: Avicennia marina

KSM also had the highest average downed deadwood Based on the depth profile of C concentration and C density,
biomass (DDWB) and litter and seedling biomass; hence, the the lowest value was in the youngest mangrove forest, MBS,
KSM had the highest average mangrove forest biomass at depth of 0 – 10 cm (3.16 ± 0.28% and 0.29 ± 0.02 mg
(459.92 ± 209.36 Mg ha-1) which was not significantly cm-3 respectively) while the highest value was in the oldest
different from the average total biomass of the mangrove mangrove, KSM, at a depth of 20 – 30 cm (5.93 ± 0.2% and
forest of PTK (433.29 ± 18.02 Mg ha-1, Tukey’s multiple 0.5 ± 0.01 mg cm-3). The bulk density, C concentration and
comparisons test p = 0.88). However, the average of the total C density at each location and depth are shown in figure
forest biomass of KSM and PTK was triple MBS and LTM 5.
(145.82 ± 34.35 and 163.96 ± 19.66 Mg ha-1 respectively,
Tukey’s multiple comparisons test p < 0.05). The forest As the bulk density and % C increased with the depth in all
structures and carbon stocks of each location are shown in forests (fig. 2A and B), the deeper is the soil, the higher is
table 2. the soil C content in all forests. Although the forest ages
were not significantly correlated with the soil C content (r2 =
Soil properties and C-stocks: The KSM site, the 100-year- 0.635, ρ = 0.2), the younger mangrove forests, the MBS and
old R. apiculata mangrove forest, had significantly lower LTM, had lower soil C content than that of the older ones,
bulk density in each depth than the other sites (Tukey’s PTK and KSM. The average of total soil C content was 97.03
multiple comparison test p < 0.05) and 30-cm average values ± 11.96 and 123.71 ± 3 Mg C ha-1 respectively for MBS and
ranged from 0.876 g cm-3 in KSM at a depth of 0 – 10 cm to LTM, 128.99 ± 15.46 and 135.98 ± 4.04 Mg C ha-1
0.939 g cm-3 in LTM at a depth of 20 – 30 cm. Bulk density respectively for PTK and KSM (figure 3).
slightly increased with depth in all forests. Meanwhile, the
highest percentage of substrate in KSM, LTM and PTK was Discussion
coarse sand while medium sand was apparent in the substrate Forest structure and biomass C stocks: The density of
of MBS. mangroves in each location was different; the planted
forest’s density (the MBS) was twice more than that of
Soil C concentration and C density varied among location naturally regenerated forest (KSM, LTM, and PTK). The
and generally increased with forest ages and depth. The MBS also had a higher species number than KSM and PTK.
KSM had average C concentration and C density higher than R. apiculata was the only species grown and dominated in
MBS, LTM, and PTK (Tukey’s multiple comparison test p those areas while R. apiculata, R. mucronata, B.
< 0.05) in which the average values were 5.14 ± 0.15 % and gymnorhiza, and A. marina were evenly found throughout
0.45 ± 0.01 mg cm-3 for C concentration and C density the former area. It may be because the artificial mangroves
respectively. The average values of C concentration of MBS, introduced newer different species and were planted with
LTM, and PTK were 3.51 ± 0.41 %, 4.4 ± 0.1% and 4.62 ± higher density than naturally regenerated forest.
0.55% respectively; meanwhile, the average values of C Furthermore, Rhizophora spp. and Bruguiera spp. were
density of MBS, LTM, and PTK were 0.32 ± 0.03 mg cm-3, species with the highest important value index (IVI)
0.41 ± 0.01 mg cm-3 and 0.43 ± 0.05 mg cm-3 respectively. respectively.

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a. Mean soil bulk density

b. Carbon concentration

c. carbon density
Fig. 2: (A) Mean soil bulk density, (B) carbon concentration and (C) carbon density with depth in each location;
error bars represent standard deviation of each mean. Two-way ANOVA showed statistically significant differences
(p> 0.05) in soils among locations and depths.
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Fig. 3: Relationship between total soil carbon (30 cm-depth) and forest age for the chronosequence.
Error bars represent SE (n=3). Linear best fit line is shown: Y = 0.33*X + 104.4 (r2 = 0.63, ρ = 0.2)

The concept of ‘Important Value Index (IVI)’ has been was much lower than that of Bintuni, West Papua and
developed for expressing the dominance and ecological Tanjung Puting National Park, Central Kalimantan (323.26
success of any species with a single value25. The index was Mg C ha-1 and 140 Mg C ha-1 respectively)28.
determined by the relative abundance, relative dominance,
and relative frequency of the species in a study plot1. Those Sediment C-stock: A bulk density, C concentration, and the
species are also saline tolerant and found on the seaward side total depth of soil estimates are principal factors in
of mangrove swamps29,36; they were supported by high determining soil C stocks. BD is influenced by the relative
salinity on the research stations (average 27.89 ppt). proportion of clay, silk and sand which considers both the
solids and the pore space26. BD values of this study which
Allometric models were used in this study to estimate the ranged between 0.876 g cm-3 and 0.939 g cm-3 were
AGB and BGB with DBH as an independent variable to proportional with %C of soil (between 3.16% and 5.92%).
determine the biomass. The models had been developed for As a comparison, the BD of mangrove soils in Indian
mangroves such as the genus Avicennia, Bruguiera7,11 and Sundarbans which ranges between 1.2 g cm-3 and 1.5 g cm-3
Rhizophora30. The methods are non-destructive, useful and has %C of soil ranged between 0.44% and 1.01% while a
efficient and are widely used for estimating forest higher BD leads to a lower %C26.
biomass.9,19,28
Evidently, on average, the KSM also had the lowest BD and
On the stand level, the Lamongan mangrove forest had an the highest %C among other area. However, based on the
average of the total biomass C stock of 140.39 ± 35.07 Mg depth profile of our study, BD and %C increased with the
C ha-1 varying from 69.97 ± 11.01 Mg C ha-1 in the youngest depth in all research stations (figure 3) as the deeper soil
mangrove forest (MBS) to 213.97 ± 102.45 Mg C ha-1 in the leads to a higher compactness of soil and increases %C of
oldest mangrove forest (KSM). The average C stock biomass soil in tens of centimeter-scale9; yet the %C may decrease
of mangrove of Lamongan was equivalent to carbon dioxide with the depth for sediment deeper than 50 cm.
sequestration of 515.23 ± 128.7 Mg CO2 ha-1 stored in the
biomass of above- and below-ground, downed deadwood Furthermore, the 0-30 cm averages of %C of soil at all four
and seedlings. The C stocks of mangrove stands obtained in forests were relatively similar (3.51% at MBS to 5.13% at
this study are worth comparing to the studies undertaken in KSM) compared to the often-cited global estimate for
different parts of Indonesia and the Asia Pacific region. mangrove forests between 2% and 10%10,22,29. In our field
observation in the MBS, the solid waste and wastewater of
The average of above-ground carbon (AGC) in this study shrimp aquaculture were directly disposed of in the
varied from 30 ± 7.32 Mg C ha-1 in MBS to 151.12 ± 81.60 mangrove forest while in other areas, the aquaculture’s
Mg C ha-1 in KSM (average 93.62 ± 27.07 Mg C ha-1). The sewages were released into a canal that further flowed to the
AGC of mangrove of Lamongan was higher than that of sea. Hence, the MBS should have a higher % soil C than that
Southern China (55.0 Mg C ha-1)6, Okinawa, Japan (40.25 of other areas as aquaculture wastewater may contain high
Mg C ha-1)18, North Sulawesi (30.8 Mg C ha-1)27 and concentrations of carbon and nitrogen23; however, the MBS
Andaman Island, India (62 Mg C ha-1)35. It was much higher had the lowest % soil C that unlike mangroves, the shrimp
than that of other mangrove areas of Java like Cilacap (6.9 farms may not contribute significant amount of organic load
Mg C ha-1)28 and Karimun Jawa (64.15 Mg C ha-1)14 but it to the soils.

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Evidently, the MBS was the youngest and artificial forest which contained on average 1,023 Mg C ha–1 as the majority
while the older forests were natural mangrove forest with (78%) of C-stocks was stored in the soil in which the
higher forest biomass, assuming that % soil C continues to sediment was sampled as depth as 200 cm28.
increase with forest age as mangrove forests store and
sequestrate carbon in the soil9. Meanwhile, our sediment samples were taken from 0-30 cm
depth, which already contained 46% (121.42 ± 8.74 Mg C
Our study showed that the total soil C content did not ha-1) of the ecosystem C-stocks. It might be as high as the
significantly correlate with forest age (r2 = 0.6351, ρ = 0.2) ecosystem C stocks of Indo-Pacific mangroves if the soil
(figure 3). It was driven by the high values of the 20-year- was also sampled at the same depth. Therefore, the
old forest; if the soil C content of LTM was excluded (i.e. mangrove ecosystem of this area represents a significant sink
only the MBS, KSM and PTK were included), there would of carbon which must be managed well as the area has been
be a correlation between forest age and soil C content. The impacted by an increase in intensive anthropogenic
mangroves of LTM were relatively young; however, the soil disturbance.
of the forest contained a relatively high value of soil C
content, driven in part by the fact that the area had once been Conclusion
a mangrove forest before it was cleared for timber The mangrove species that had a highest contribution to
production which later grew naturally as the poaching of ecosystem C stocks was R. apiculata as it had the highest
mangrove wood has been stopped. value of IVI and DBH among other species. Furthermore,
the forest C stock in the older and natural forest, PTK and
Ecosystem C-stock: Based on the combined data of the KSM, was also merely contributed by R. apiculata that the
mean C-stocks in biomass and sediment, we found that the high trees’ biomass in those areas lead the ecosystem C
mangrove ecosystem of Lamongan stored a high of 261.81 stocks of mangrove to be correlated with the forest’s age. As
± 43.82 Mg C ha-1 which was equivalent to 960.86 ± 160.82 the total area of Lamongan mangrove ecosystem was ± 94
Mg CO2 ha-1. The 15-year-old mangrove forest, MBS, had ha, the area sequestered 2.4 x 104 Mg C which was
the lowest ecosystem C stocks (167 ± 22.96 Mg C ha-1) than equivalent to 9 x 104 Mg CO2.
that of LTM, PTK and KSM (199.56 ± 23.18, 330.75 ±
22.62, 349.95 ± 106.5 Mg C ha-1 respectively). The Although the C soil does not significantly increase with the
ecosystem C-stocks was significantly correlated with the forest age, the 0-30 cm soil already contained a higher
forest’s age (figure 4) as the forest biomass of the older proportion of C stocks than that of the forest. The soil
forests, KSM and PTK, was significantly higher than the potentially sequesters much higher C in the deeper layer of
younger forests, MBS and LTM (table 2). the older forest as it might have a higher accumulation of
litter fall buried in mangrove sediment over time. Large soil
pools of mangrove of Lamongan should be conserved to
mitigate climate change; therefore, sustainable management
of the mangroves ecosystem should be implemented by local
communities and authorities.

Acknowledgement
The authors would like to thank the rector of UB as the
article publication was financially supported by the
university. Technical support from Sigit D. Sasmito, Ph.D.
during the C stocks calculation was helpful and greatly
appreciated. Assistance from students, Fahmi and Hilmi,
was also helpful during the field trip.

Fig. 4: Relationship between Ecosystem carbon stocks References

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33. Sahu S., Kumar M. and Ravindranath N.H., Carbon Stocks in (Received 27th March 2017, accepted 05th July 2017)
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