Blue carbon and the role of mangroves in carbon sequestration: Its mechanisms, estimation, human impacts and conservation strategies for economic incentives.

Mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrasses have been recognized as blue carbon coastal ecosystems as they accommodate large carbon stocks, enable long-term carbon storage, have the capacity to control greenhouse gas emissions and possess the potential to reduce the rise in atmospheric CO 2 levels. In the tropical and subtropical intertidal zones, mangroves show significant productivity and rapid deposition rates. Mangroves play an important role in capturing, transforming, and storing CO 2 in the atmosphere into coastal sediments for a long time, displacing organic carbon from the coastal zone to the offshores and the ocean. Mangroves also help in preventing storms, hurricanes, coastal erosion, and tidal waves. Recently, mangroves have been threatened by natural and anthropogenic activities such as urbanization, pollution, aquaculture and tourism. They are expected to hamper their essential services, such as coastal defense, breeding grounds for aquatic organisms' seafood supply, etc. Despite the importance of mangrove forests in carbon sequestration and the numerous goods and services they offer humans, wood and non-wood forest products, food, fisheries, medicines, eco-tourism, and recreation. These mangrove ecosystems are deteriorating at alarming rates, necessitating immediate intervention. Thus, the protection, restoration and conservation of this ecosystem are gaining considerable attention from researchers across the globe. This paper provides information on different mangrove adaptations, their mechanisms, roles in the ecosystem, carbon estimation, influencing factors, threats, and conservation strategies for carbon sequestration in this invaluable coastal habitat. • Carbon sequestration is the most crucial ecosystem function among the ecosystem services offered by coastal ecosystems. • Mangroves play an important role in capturing, transforming, and storing carbon. • Blue carbon ecosystems play a critical role in regulating our climate. • Various factors that impact carbon sequestration and conservation strategies were discussed. • Economic incentives via ecotourism in mangrove ecosystems were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]