Mangroves hold promise for carbon sequestration in the Caribbean

Trinidad and Tobago

As energy industry executives and governments are called on to take the lead in reducing carbon dioxide and methane emissions – the two largest contributors to increasing global temperatures – carbon sequestration is poised to play a key role in these efforts. In the Caribbean, mangrove forests have a vital role to play in this solution.

In December 2015, The Paris Agreement was signed by 196 parties at The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) amid calls for action against climate change. However, progress remains slow, which prompted the UN’s climate change executive secretary, Simon Stiell, to advocate a shift in focus from the “what” to the “how” as he addressed attendees of COP28 High-Level Ministerial Roundtable in Dubai on December 9, 2023.

TRINIDAD’S ROLE: In the Caribbean, an energy industry powerhouse such as Trinidad and Tobago is a large contributor to regional greenhouse gas emissions, especially its upstream and downstream energy sectors. In this context, key actors such as The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC), as well as its subsidiaries, have been collaborating to establish the “how” of the nation’s decarbonisation plan.
The challenge for such a nation is that although renewable energy technologies are slated for implementation, legislative obstacles lie in the way of speeding up progress, and the nation’s economy relies primarily on LNG and petrochemicals exports – both of which emit large amounts of carbon dioxide during production. To address this, NGC has been leading studies to tackle greenhouse gases from another angle: to take them out of the atmosphere, thereby establishing lower net emissions.

A PLAN OF ACTION: This is where carbon sequestration comes into play as a plan of action for the country. Carbon sequestration refers to the capture and storage of carbon dioxide and can be done through natural means such as forests or through the use of carbon capture, utilisation and storage systems installed at industry sites. For Caribbean nations such as Trinidad and Tobago, the native mangrove swamps hold an opportune advantage. Mangrove forests are one of the best natural forms of carbon storage.
Mangrove trees, like others, absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and sequester it in their root and shoot biomass. Their roots have a cavernous system which thrives in shorelands and due to the nature of the aquatic ecosystem, creating lower oxygen levels in the soil submerged below water. When biomass is degraded, carbon re-enters the atmosphere, but low oxygen levels lead to a slower degradation of dead biomass by microbes, thereby trapping carbon in the soil system for a longer period.
Ultimately the combination of carbon capture by the trees and slow degradation of biomass makes mangrove forests a highly effective carbon sink. Studies indicate that Mangrove forests can sequester carbon at up to 10 times the rate of mature tropical forests and hold three to five times the amount of carbon in comparison.

FURTHER BENEFITS: NGC has recognised the value of mangrove forests and how they serve a role beyond carbon sequestration alone – mangroves also help protect coastlines and are vital habitats for marine species. On November 15, 2023, the company signed a memorandum of agreement with the Institute of Marine Affairs to collaborate on a mangrove restoration project which will be conducted over two years in an area located on the northwestern part of the island.
Further to its potential role as a carbon sink, the capture of carbon by mangrove forest also presents an economic benefit to the nation. The emergence of the carbon trading market – referring to carbon credits and carbon offsets – has gained increased attention in light of global decarbonisation goals.
Carbon credits work like an allowance, whereby a company can purchase carbon credits – from the government, for example – and this grants them permission to generate an amount of carbon dioxide.
Carbon offsets flow horizontally between companies, where a company which reduces carbon from the atmosphere can then sell the offset unit to the companies who want to lower their carbon footprint on record.

INITIAL STEPS: For Trinidad and Tobago, studies on carbon sequestration in mangrove have been ongoing since January 2021. Minister of Planning and Development Camille Robinson-Regis highlighted this as an economic opportunity for Trinidad and Tobago in reference to an assessment study funded by the British High Commission.
For many other Caribbean territories, this environmental solution and economic opportunity is also available. Countries such as Jamaica have already collaborated with the Inter-American Development Bank on projects involving restoration of mangrove, identified as “blue carbon” projects as blue carbon refers to carbon stored in aquatic systems. Other islands across the Caribbean chain are also recognising the environmental value and economic potential of their mangrove forests.
Frank Teelucksingh – managing director of Coastal Dynamics, a Trinidad-based environmental service company – told The Energy Year that many of the islands, mainly Jamaica, have already expressed interest in taking action towards mangrove restoration projects for the environmental benefit and potential economic value on the evolving carbon market.

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