Mangrove forests store massive carbon but sea level rise may push them past their limit

Mangrove forests cover less than 1% of Earth's surface but store about 15% of all ocean carbon, mostly in the soil. A new study in Earth's Future models how sea level rise could shrink suitable mangrove habitat and reduce total carbon storage across entire forests. Some areas may even switch from carbon sinks to carbon sources as inundation increases. The study accounts for water flow, sediment movement, and carbon dynamics across the landscape. Results show that local gains in carbon accumulation don't offset overall losses. For carbon project developers and coastal managers, this means mangrove offset permanence depends heavily on local sea level projections and sediment supply.