Quantifying the role of saltmarsh as a vulnerable carbon sink: A case study from Northern Portugal

Saltmarshes play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and storage, although they are increasingly threatened by climate change-induced sea level rise (SLR). This study assessed the potential variation in Blue Carbon stocks across regional and local scales, and estimated their economic value and potential habitat loss due to SLR based on the IPCC AR6 scenarios for 2050 and 2100 in three estuarine saltmarshes in northern Portugal, the saltmarshes of the Minho, Lima and Cávado estuaries. The combined carbon stock of these saltmarshes was 38,798 ± 2880 t of organic carbon, valued at 3.96 ± 0.38 M€. Local and regional differences in carbon stocks were observed between common species, with the cordgrass Spartina patens and the reed Phragmites australis consistently showing higher values in the Lima saltmarsh in some of the parameters. Overall, the Lima saltmarsh had the highest total carbon per species cover, with S. patens showing the highest values among common species. Bolboschoenus maritimus had the highest values in the Minho saltmarsh, while the other species presented a similar carbon storage capacity. Potential habitat loss due to SLR was most evident in the Cávado saltmarsh over shorter timescales, with a significant risk of inundation even for median values of SLR, while the Lima saltmarsh was shown to be more resistant and resilient. If habitat loss directly equates to carbon loss within these saltmarshes, projected CO₂ emissions may range from 22,000 to 43,449 t by 2050 and 33,000 to 130,000 t by 2100 (under the IPCC SSP5-8.5 scenario). The study shows the importance of Blue Carbon site-specific estimates, acknowledging the potential future repercussions from habitat loss due to SLR. It emphasizes the need to consider local and regional variability in Blue Carbon stocks assessments and highlights the critical importance of preserving and rehabilitating these ecosystems to ensure their continued efficacy as vital carbon sinks, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.