Conserving Bhitarkanika Mangroves for Sustainable Blue Economy

Kakoli Banerjee; G. Jayanti Reddy; Archana Snehasini Turuk; Pramod Kumar Bindhani

doi:10.36808/if/2025/v151i9/170894

Conserving Bhitarkanika Mangroves for Sustainable Blue Economy

Authors

Kakoli Banerjee Department of Biodiversity and Conservation of Natural Resources, Central University of Odisha, Sunabeda, NAD, Koraput 763004
G. Jayanti Reddy Department of Biodiversity and Conservation of Natural Resources, Central University of Odisha, Sunabeda, NAD, Koraput 763004
Archana Snehasini Turuk Department of Biodiversity and Conservation of Natural Resources, Central University of Odisha, Sunabeda, NAD, Koraput 763004
Pramod Kumar Bindhani Department of Biodiversity and Conservation of Natural Resources, Central University of Odisha, Sunabeda, NAD, Koraput 763004

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2025/v151i9/170894

Keywords:

Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, Mangroves, Blue carbon, Blue economy, Carbon dioxide equivalent.

Abstract

The study quantifies the Above Ground Biomass (AGB) and Above Ground Carbon (AGC) of Bhitarkanika mangroves to assess their potential for Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) and carbon credit valuation. Analysis of four dominant species viz. Avicennia marina, Avicennia officinalis, Excoecaria agallocha, and Rhizophora mucronata in five selected stations revealed significant seasonal and spatial variations (p < 0.05) Average AGB over a period of 5 years (2017-2022) was highest in A. (190.412±12.49 t.ha^-1) followed by E. agallocha (66.94±3.94 t.ha^-1), A. marina (30.06±1.98 t.ha^-1) and R. mucronata (29.57±1.25 t.ha^-1) with stilt roots contributing 34.14±16.10%. Average AGC followed a similar trend, with maximum carbon storage at Station 2 (93.30±10.07 t.ha^-1) and minimum at station 5 (13.01±1.97 t.ha^-1) due to drastic variation in salinity and pH. Average sediment organic carbon (SOC) values over a period of 5 years ranged from 23.56±2.76 t.ha^-1 to 56.48±8.22 t.ha^-1. Rate of carbon sequestration of mangroves along with SOC is 9,954.27 t.ha^-1yr^-1 with annual CO₂ equivalent of 36532.17 tones. Considering the Bhitarkanika mangrove ecosystem as a whole, the carbon stock is estimated to be 33.44 TgC which is equivalent to 122.74 Tg CO₂ Economic valuation indicated a carbon credit worth $1.23 billion annually establishing a national minimum price on carbon pollution $50 in 2022 per ton. These findings emphasize Bhitarkanika's role as a crucial carbon sink, supporting SDG 13 climate goals and blue economy through conservation-driven carbon trading opportunities.

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