Mangrove forests face collapse from sea level rise, new study warns

Mangrove forests store huge amounts of carbon in their soil, but a new study in Earth's Future finds that sea level rise could push them past a breaking point. The model shows that while some parts of a mangrove forest may temporarily store more carbon, the overall system will shrink and may start emitting CO2 as trees drown. This matters because mangroves cover less than 1% of the Earth's surface but hold about 15% of ocean carbon. The study highlights that mangroves need room to migrate inland as seas rise, but coastal development often blocks that path. The authors say limiting sea level rise and preserving space for mangroves to retreat are both necessary. For carbon offset projects relying on mangrove conservation, this raises questions about long-term storage and project risk under accelerating sea level rise.