Mangrove Carbon Runs Deep
The most visible part of a mangrove forest may hold only a small share of its carbon.
What researchers measured in Jamaica
Francis and colleagues assessed mangroves around Kingston Harbour, measuring forest structure at 12 sites and soil carbon down to one metre. Their estimate for approximately 300 hectares was 125,373 megagrams of carbon. About 92% was below ground, in roots and soil.
Urban-influenced and disturbed forests held less carbon than nearby less-disturbed stands. The rehabilitated site along the Portmore Toll road had particularly low soil carbon.
What the comparison can and cannot show
These were observational comparisons among sites with different histories and environmental conditions. They do not isolate the amount of carbon loss caused by urban disturbance alone.
Soil carbon estimates also involved converting organic matter measured through loss-on-ignition to carbon, rather than directly measuring elemental carbon in every sample. The study’s depth, methods and local conditions matter when interpreting its totals.
Why this matters for Golfo Dulce
The 92% figure belongs to the Jamaican study. It should not be presented as a measured percentage for Golfo Dulce.
For future work here, our recommendation is to assess the whole mangrove system. A monitoring plan should explain which carbon pools it includes, how deep sediment is sampled and how tidal connections and disturbance history are documented.
It should also distinguish a standing carbon stock from an annual removal of carbon dioxide. A large stock is not, by itself, a calculation of annual climate benefit or a basis for issuing carbon credits.
Look beyond the number of trees
Restoration reporting should make room for soil condition, water movement, natural recruitment and survival over time. Counting planted seedlings alone cannot tell readers whether ecosystem function has recovered.
For SaveGolfoDulce, the lesson is to ask what lies beneath the canopy before making claims about climate benefits. Protecting an existing forest and rebuilding a disturbed one are different tasks, each requiring evidence suited to the place.
Source
Source checked: 28 September 2026. Hero image: AI-generated editorial illustration; not a photograph of the reported research.
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