Australian vegetated coastal ecosystems as global hotspots for climate change mitigation

Oscar Serrano; Catherine E Lovelock; Trisha B. Atwood; Peter I Macreadie; Robert Canto; Stuart Phinn; Ariane Arias-Ortiz; Le Bai; Jeff Baldock; Camila Bedulli; Paul Carnell; Rod M Connolly; Paul Donaldson; Alba Esteban; Carolyn J. Ewers Lewis; Bradley D Eyre; Matthew A. Hayes; Pierre Horwitz; Lindsay B. Hutley; Christopher R.J. Kavazos; Jeffrey J Kelleway; G. A. Kendrick; Kieryn Kilminster; Anna Lafratta; Shing Lee; P. S. Lavery; Damien T. Maher; Núria Marbà; Pere Masqué; Miguel A. Mateo; Richard Mount; Peter J. Ralph; Chris Roelfsema; M. Rozaimi; Radhiyah Ruhon; Cristian Salinas; Jimena Samper-Villarreal; Jonathan Sanderman; Christian J Sanders; Isaac Santos; Chris Sharples; Andrew D.L. Steven; Toni Cannard; Stacey M. Trevathan-Tackett; Carlos M. Duarte

doi:10.1038/s41467-019-12176-8

Australian vegetated coastal ecosystems as global hotspots for climate change mitigation

Oscar Serrano, Catherine E Lovelock, Trisha B. Atwood, Peter I Macreadie, Robert Canto, Stuart Phinn, Ariane Arias-Ortiz, Le Bai, Jeff Baldock, Camila Bedulli, Paul Carnell, Rod M Connolly, Paul Donaldson, Alba Esteban, Carolyn J. Ewers Lewis, Bradley D Eyre, Matthew A. Hayes, Pierre Horwitz, Lindsay B. Hutley, Christopher R.J. KavazosJeffrey J Kelleway, G. A. Kendrick, Kieryn Kilminster, Anna Lafratta, Shing Lee, P. S. Lavery, Damien T. Maher, Núria Marbà, Pere Masqué, Miguel A. Mateo, Richard Mount, Peter J. Ralph, Chris Roelfsema, M. Rozaimi, Radhiyah Ruhon, Cristian Salinas, Jimena Samper-Villarreal, Jonathan Sanderman, Christian J Sanders, Isaac Santos, Chris Sharples, Andrew D.L. Steven, Toni Cannard, Stacey M. Trevathan-Tackett, Carlos M. Duarte

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

154 Scopus citations

Abstract

Policies aiming to preserve vegetated coastal ecosystems (VCE; tidal marshes, mangroves and seagrasses) to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions require national assessments of blue carbon resources. Here, we present organic carbon (C) storage in VCE across Australian climate regions and estimate potential annual CO2 emission benefits of VCE conservation and restoration. Australia contributes 5-11% of the C stored in VCE globally (70-185 Tg C in aboveground biomass, and 1,055-1,540 Tg C in the upper 1 m of soils). Potential CO2 emissions from current VCE losses are estimated at 2.1-3.1 Tg CO2-e yr-1, increasing annual CO2 emissions from land use change in Australia by 12-21%. This assessment, the most comprehensive for any nation to-date, demonstrates the potential of conservation and restoration of VCE to underpin national policy development for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Original language	English (US)
Journal	Nature communications
Volume	10
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12176-8
State	Published - Oct 2 2019

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1038/s41467-019-12176-8

https://repository.kaust.edu.sa/bitstream/10754/660523/1/Articlefile1.pdf

Cite this

Serrano, O., Lovelock, C. E., Atwood, T. B., Macreadie, P. I., Canto, R., Phinn, S., Arias-Ortiz, A., Bai, L., Baldock, J., Bedulli, C., Carnell, P., Connolly, R. M., Donaldson, P., Esteban, A., Ewers Lewis, C. J., Eyre, B. D., Hayes, M. A., Horwitz, P., Hutley, L. B., ... Duarte, C. M. (2019). Australian vegetated coastal ecosystems as global hotspots for climate change mitigation. Nature communications, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12176-8

@article{6f21d945e18a434289b0ac75f5a1e8d6,

title = "Australian vegetated coastal ecosystems as global hotspots for climate change mitigation",

abstract = "Policies aiming to preserve vegetated coastal ecosystems (VCE; tidal marshes, mangroves and seagrasses) to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions require national assessments of blue carbon resources. Here, we present organic carbon (C) storage in VCE across Australian climate regions and estimate potential annual CO2 emission benefits of VCE conservation and restoration. Australia contributes 5-11% of the C stored in VCE globally (70-185 Tg C in aboveground biomass, and 1,055-1,540 Tg C in the upper 1 m of soils). Potential CO2 emissions from current VCE losses are estimated at 2.1-3.1 Tg CO2-e yr-1, increasing annual CO2 emissions from land use change in Australia by 12-21%. This assessment, the most comprehensive for any nation to-date, demonstrates the potential of conservation and restoration of VCE to underpin national policy development for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.",

author = "Oscar Serrano and Lovelock, {Catherine E} and Atwood, {Trisha B.} and Macreadie, {Peter I} and Robert Canto and Stuart Phinn and Ariane Arias-Ortiz and Le Bai and Jeff Baldock and Camila Bedulli and Paul Carnell and Connolly, {Rod M} and Paul Donaldson and Alba Esteban and {Ewers Lewis}, {Carolyn J.} and Eyre, {Bradley D} and Hayes, {Matthew A.} and Pierre Horwitz and Hutley, {Lindsay B.} and Kavazos, {Christopher R.J.} and Kelleway, {Jeffrey J} and Kendrick, {G. A.} and Kieryn Kilminster and Anna Lafratta and Shing Lee and Lavery, {P. S.} and Maher, {Damien T.} and N{\'u}ria Marb{\`a} and Pere Masqu{\'e} and Mateo, {Miguel A.} and Richard Mount and Ralph, {Peter J.} and Chris Roelfsema and M. Rozaimi and Radhiyah Ruhon and Cristian Salinas and Jimena Samper-Villarreal and Jonathan Sanderman and {J Sanders}, Christian and Isaac Santos and Chris Sharples and Steven, {Andrew D.L.} and Toni Cannard and Trevathan-Tackett, {Stacey M.} and Duarte, {Carlos M.}",

note = "KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01 Acknowledgements: This project was supported by the CSIRO Marine and Coastal Carbon Biogeochemical Cluster, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, the ECU Faculty Research Grant Scheme and Early Career Research Grant Schemes, UTS Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, NSW Southeast Local Land Services, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), Parks Victoria, Victorian Coastal Catchment Management Authorities (GHCMA, CCMA, PPWCMA, WGCMA, EGCMA), University of Queensland Centennial Scholarship, Hodgkin Trust Scholarship, Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Northern Territory Government Innovation Grant, Australian Research Council (DE130101084, DE140101733, DE150100581, DE160100443, DE170101524, DP150103286, DP150102092, DP160100248, DP160100248, DP180101285, LE140100083, LE170100219, LP150100519, LP160100242 and LP110200975), the Generalitat de Catalunya (MERS 2014 SGR-1356), the ICTA {\textquoteleft}Unit of Excellence{\textquoteright} (MinECo, MDM2015-0552), Obra Social “LaCaixa”, SUMILEN, CTM 2013-47728-R, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and UKM-DIP-2017-005. The authors are grateful to G. Bastyan, D. Kyrwood, G. Davis, J. Bongiovanni, A. Jesse, Q. Hua, A. Zawadzki, J. Gudi{\~n}o, P. Bray, H. Markham, M. Lepore, K-le G{\'o}mez-Cabrera, and J. Pandolfi for their help in field and/or laboratory tasks.",

year = "2019",

month = oct,

day = "2",

doi = "10.1038/s41467-019-12176-8",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "10",

journal = "Nature communications",

issn = "2041-1723",

publisher = "Nature Research",

number = "1",

}

Serrano, O, Lovelock, CE, Atwood, TB, Macreadie, PI, Canto, R, Phinn, S, Arias-Ortiz, A, Bai, L, Baldock, J, Bedulli, C, Carnell, P, Connolly, RM, Donaldson, P, Esteban, A, Ewers Lewis, CJ, Eyre, BD, Hayes, MA, Horwitz, P, Hutley, LB, Kavazos, CRJ, Kelleway, JJ, Kendrick, GA, Kilminster, K, Lafratta, A, Lee, S, Lavery, PS, Maher, DT, Marbà, N, Masqué, P, Mateo, MA, Mount, R, Ralph, PJ, Roelfsema, C, Rozaimi, M, Ruhon, R, Salinas, C, Samper-Villarreal, J, Sanderman, J, J Sanders, C, Santos, I, Sharples, C, Steven, ADL, Cannard, T, Trevathan-Tackett, SM & Duarte, CM 2019, 'Australian vegetated coastal ecosystems as global hotspots for climate change mitigation', Nature communications, vol. 10, no. 1. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12176-8

TY - JOUR

T1 - Australian vegetated coastal ecosystems as global hotspots for climate change mitigation

AU - Serrano, Oscar

AU - Lovelock, Catherine E

AU - Atwood, Trisha B.

AU - Macreadie, Peter I

AU - Canto, Robert

AU - Phinn, Stuart

AU - Arias-Ortiz, Ariane

AU - Bai, Le

AU - Baldock, Jeff

AU - Bedulli, Camila

AU - Carnell, Paul

AU - Connolly, Rod M

AU - Donaldson, Paul

AU - Esteban, Alba

AU - Ewers Lewis, Carolyn J.

AU - Eyre, Bradley D

AU - Hayes, Matthew A.

AU - Horwitz, Pierre

AU - Hutley, Lindsay B.

AU - Kavazos, Christopher R.J.

AU - Kelleway, Jeffrey J

AU - Kendrick, G. A.

AU - Kilminster, Kieryn

AU - Lafratta, Anna

AU - Lee, Shing

AU - Lavery, P. S.

AU - Maher, Damien T.

AU - Marbà, Núria

AU - Masqué, Pere

AU - Mateo, Miguel A.

AU - Mount, Richard

AU - Ralph, Peter J.

AU - Roelfsema, Chris

AU - Rozaimi, M.

AU - Ruhon, Radhiyah

AU - Salinas, Cristian

AU - Samper-Villarreal, Jimena

AU - Sanderman, Jonathan

AU - J Sanders, Christian

AU - Santos, Isaac

AU - Sharples, Chris

AU - Steven, Andrew D.L.

AU - Cannard, Toni

AU - Trevathan-Tackett, Stacey M.

AU - Duarte, Carlos M.

N1 - KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01 Acknowledgements: This project was supported by the CSIRO Marine and Coastal Carbon Biogeochemical Cluster, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, the ECU Faculty Research Grant Scheme and Early Career Research Grant Schemes, UTS Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, NSW Southeast Local Land Services, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), Parks Victoria, Victorian Coastal Catchment Management Authorities (GHCMA, CCMA, PPWCMA, WGCMA, EGCMA), University of Queensland Centennial Scholarship, Hodgkin Trust Scholarship, Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Northern Territory Government Innovation Grant, Australian Research Council (DE130101084, DE140101733, DE150100581, DE160100443, DE170101524, DP150103286, DP150102092, DP160100248, DP160100248, DP180101285, LE140100083, LE170100219, LP150100519, LP160100242 and LP110200975), the Generalitat de Catalunya (MERS 2014 SGR-1356), the ICTA ‘Unit of Excellence’ (MinECo, MDM2015-0552), Obra Social “LaCaixa”, SUMILEN, CTM 2013-47728-R, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and UKM-DIP-2017-005. The authors are grateful to G. Bastyan, D. Kyrwood, G. Davis, J. Bongiovanni, A. Jesse, Q. Hua, A. Zawadzki, J. Gudiño, P. Bray, H. Markham, M. Lepore, K-le Gómez-Cabrera, and J. Pandolfi for their help in field and/or laboratory tasks.

PY - 2019/10/2

Y1 - 2019/10/2

N2 - Policies aiming to preserve vegetated coastal ecosystems (VCE; tidal marshes, mangroves and seagrasses) to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions require national assessments of blue carbon resources. Here, we present organic carbon (C) storage in VCE across Australian climate regions and estimate potential annual CO2 emission benefits of VCE conservation and restoration. Australia contributes 5-11% of the C stored in VCE globally (70-185 Tg C in aboveground biomass, and 1,055-1,540 Tg C in the upper 1 m of soils). Potential CO2 emissions from current VCE losses are estimated at 2.1-3.1 Tg CO2-e yr-1, increasing annual CO2 emissions from land use change in Australia by 12-21%. This assessment, the most comprehensive for any nation to-date, demonstrates the potential of conservation and restoration of VCE to underpin national policy development for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

AB - Policies aiming to preserve vegetated coastal ecosystems (VCE; tidal marshes, mangroves and seagrasses) to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions require national assessments of blue carbon resources. Here, we present organic carbon (C) storage in VCE across Australian climate regions and estimate potential annual CO2 emission benefits of VCE conservation and restoration. Australia contributes 5-11% of the C stored in VCE globally (70-185 Tg C in aboveground biomass, and 1,055-1,540 Tg C in the upper 1 m of soils). Potential CO2 emissions from current VCE losses are estimated at 2.1-3.1 Tg CO2-e yr-1, increasing annual CO2 emissions from land use change in Australia by 12-21%. This assessment, the most comprehensive for any nation to-date, demonstrates the potential of conservation and restoration of VCE to underpin national policy development for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10754/660523

UR - http://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-12176-8

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85072847917&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/s41467-019-12176-8

DO - 10.1038/s41467-019-12176-8

M3 - Article

C2 - 31575872

SN - 2041-1723

VL - 10

JO - Nature communications

JF - Nature communications

IS - 1

ER -

Australian vegetated coastal ecosystems as global hotspots for climate change mitigation

Abstract

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint