Probable carbon credit – based market value of selected mangrove patches in Indian Sundarbans

Mangrove forests are highly productive with carbon storage potential almost equal or sometimes more than the terrestrial forest. The net primary production is about 12 tonnes dry wt. ha-1 year-1. This unique forest ecosystem accounts for 3% of carbon sequester by the World tropical forest, and 14% of carbon sequester in the World Ocean. Thus, mangrove forest may become a major player in the domain of carbon trading. The purpose of this study is to estimate the amount of carbon stored and its potential market value in few selected mangrove forests distributed in two sectors of Indian Sundarbans with contrasting variation in salinity. The western sector of Indian Sundarban Biosphere reserve (ISBR) is relatively low saline and promotes luxuriant growth of mangroves, whereas in the central sector exposed to high saline water, the mangroves exhibit stunted growth. Assessment of the monetary values of mangroves in context to mangrove carbon trading considering the Above Ground Biomass (AGB) and Above Ground Carbon (AGC) has been carried out in this research based on the market price of carbon in the voluntary market. The market valuation of the dominant mangrove tree species in the western sector is higher compared to the central sector of ISBR owing to higher AGB and AGC of mangroves in the former sector compared to the later.