Nature-based solutions could supply a large share of the cost-effective emissions cuts needed this decade. Mangroves, forests that grow where rivers meet the sea, are among the strongest.
Why they matter
- Coastal protection. Their roots can cut wave height by 13 to 66% over 100 metres, and they are estimated to prevent more than $65 billion in flood damage a year.
- Carbon storage. They grow fast and their waterlogged, oxygen-poor soil keeps carbon locked away instead of letting it decay back into the atmosphere.
- Biodiversity and livelihoods. Nearly 4,000 species are associated with them, and in places like Guinea-Bissau mangrove fisheries support almost all small-scale fishers.
A reality check
I ran a simple calculation against aviation. Mangroves sequester roughly 0.088 gigatons of CO2 a year, against about 0.915 gigatons from aviation in 2019. That is under 10%, so mangroves are a crucial part of a wider strategy, never a way to offset an industry’s emissions.