Central American Mangrove Blue Carbon: Distribution, Dynamics and Future Directions

Mangroves are one of the most important Blue Carbon ecosystems within the tropics and subtropics, capturing and storing more atmospheric carbon dioxide per unit area than terrestrial forest systems. There is large variation in estimates of carbon stocks of mangroves in Central America, due to differences in underlying geomorphology, localised environmental conditions, and species composition, which also vary between the Pacific and Atlantic coastlines. In this review, we assess our current knowledge of the distribution of mangroves in the region, their role as a carbon sink, our current understanding of their dynamics and resilience, and identify key questions to understand their likely responses to future environmental change processes. This is of particular concern as the Central American region is predicted to experience significant climatic changes, such as increased air and sea surface temperatures, greater frequencies of high intensity cyclones, and increased drought events. Understanding the resilience and vulnerability of these systems will have policy and management implications for the role of Blue Carbon ecosystems as natural climate solutions, ecosystem-based adaptation plans, and disaster risk reduction strategies.