Maximizing blue carbon stocks through saltmarsh restoration

McMahon, L., Ladd, C. J.T. , Burden, A., Garrett, E., Redeker, K. R., Lawrence, P. and Gehrels, R. (2023) Maximizing blue carbon stocks through saltmarsh restoration. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10, 1106607. (doi: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1106607)

Abstract

Political discourse around coastal wetland restoration and blue carbon management strategies has increased in the past decade, yet carbon storage has neither been a reason for restoration, nor a criterion to measure the success of current saltmarsh restoration schemes in the UK. To maximise climate change mitigation through saltmarsh restoration, knowledge on the key drivers of carbon stock variability is required. We use restored saltmarshes of similar age, paired with adjacent natural marshes as references, to identify drivers of carbon stocks following managed realignment within an estuary in southeastern England. From surficial soil cores (top 30 cm), we measured carbon stock alongside environmental characteristics. Carbon stock between natural and restored sites were similar after ~ 30 years when restored sites were above mean high water neap (MHWN) tidal levels. Elevated marsh platforms likely provide suitable conditions for the development of mature plant communities associated with greater capture and production of organic carbon. The restored site at Tollesbury (Essex, UK) had a 2-fold lower carbon stock than other restored sites in the estuary. We attribute this to the site’s low position in the tidal frame, below MHWN tidal levels, coupled with low sediment supply and the dominance of pioneer plant communities. As blue carbon is anticipated to become an important facet of saltmarsh restoration, we recommend that sites above MHWN tidal levels are selected for managed realignment or that preference is given to coastlines with a high sediment supply that may rapidly elevate realignment sites above MHWN. Alternatively, elevation could be artificially raised prior to realignment. Restoration schemes aiming to maximise climate change mitigation should also encourage the establishment of key plant species (e.g., Atriplex portulacoides in our study) to enhance carbon stocks. However, the overall goal of restoration ought to be carefully considered as trade-offs in ecosystem services may ensue if restoration for climate change mitigation alone is pursued.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This research forms part of an Adapting to the Challenges of a Changing Environment (ACCE) Doctoral Training Partnership funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), part of United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) (NE/L002450/1). CL, AB and RG were funded by NERC grant NE/R010846/1 (Carbon Storage in Intertidal Environments; C-SIDE).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ladd, Dr Cai
• Authors: McMahon, L., Ladd, C. J.T., Burden, A., Garrett, E., Redeker, K. R., Lawrence, P., and Gehrels, R.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
• Journal Name: Frontiers in Marine Science
• Publisher: Frontiers Media
• ISSN: 2296-7745
• ISSN (Online): 2296-7745
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 McMahon, Ladd, Burden, Garrett, Redeker, Lawrence and Gehrels
• First Published: First published in Frontiers in Marine Science 10: 1106607
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License
• Data DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.21587940