BajaNomad - Baja's desert mangroves suck up carbon dioxide

Baja's desert mangroves suck up carbon dioxide

Whale-ista - 4-4-2016 at 05:12 PM

Another reason to love our Baja coastal lagoons- and protect them.

Related: I remember camping south of Loreto, 30 years ago, and awakening to the sound of heavy machinery. I spent the morning sipping coffee in my VW van, watching blue herons catch fish in the inlet, and workers bulldoze and burn (!) the mangroves where the current hotels and golf course are now located. Talk about releasing carbon into the atmosphere...

Sigh...such a waste of good mangroves.
===========================
Study from Scripps Institution of Oceanography yields surprise finding

As climate change has heightened concerns about the global decline of mangroves, a new study found that such ecosystems along the desert coast of Baja California may be more important than previously thought for keeping heat-trapping carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Researchers at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography discovered that despite their short and stunted appearance, mangroves in these desert locations had surprisingly high rates of sequestering carbon underground. In some cases, the ability was several times greater than that of lush mangroves in tropical locations.

“Desert mangroves specifically in Mexico, which are much smaller and cover a very small total land area, sequester comparable amounts of carbon to tropical mangroves in tropical rainforests,” said Paula Ezcurra, a scientist at Scripps and lead author of the new report.

“I think their value was underestimated. Their value in mitigating climate change was sorely underestimated,” she added.

Mangroves are coastal shrubs or trees with complex root system adapted to saltwater immersion and impacts from waves. Scientists have estimated that mangrove forests are shrinking at an annual rate of 3 percent because of human impacts.

Destruction of mangroves can release thousands of years of stored carbon into the atmosphere.

The latest study, published online Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that mangroves constrained within rocky inlets of the Baja coast have grown over their own undecomposed root structures to keep pace with the rising ocean. The process has created 2,000-year-old layers of carbon-rich peat measuring up to 13 feet deep.

“In Baja there are mangroves that are surrounded by steep mountains,” Ezcurra said. “They can’t expand horizontally, so as sea level rises, they grow on top of themselves and the soil accumulates carbon in the form of peat below them.”

She and other Scripps researchers collected sediment in desert lagoons at Bahía Magdalena and Balandra, analyzed the samples and then compared the results with samples taken from tropical lagoons at Marismas Nacionales and La Encrucijada.

Accounting for about 1 percent of Mexico’s arid northwest, the coastal desert mangroves are estimated to store28 percent of the region’s total underground carbon, according to the study.

“I think the conservation message is not to underestimate these ecosystems,” Ezcurra said. “It’s important in the assessment of environmental impacts, especially when considering land development.”

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/mar/29/scripps...

BajaBlanca - 4-4-2016 at 05:43 PM

There is so much awareness here in La Bocana as to how special the mangrove is to the world.

Juanchy, our local fisherman artist captain, is the person to go to when you want a mangrove tour. He loves everything about the mangrove and his passion shows.

There is student who approached me about helping him with a mangrove expansion project he is planning. I'll spread the info here once he gets it together.

Whale-ista - 4-4-2016 at 06:46 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca

There is so much awareness here in La Bocana as to how special the mangrove is to the world.

Juanchy, our local fisherman artist captain, is the person to go to when you want a mangrove tour. He loves everything about the mangrove and his passion shows.

There is student who approached me about helping him with a mangrove expansion project he is planning. I'll spread the info here once he gets it together.

Hooray! This generation understands: mangroves are important, if only because they are the nurseries for the fish and other critters so many people enjoy catching and eating.

bajabuddha - 4-4-2016 at 07:20 PM

All plants suck up Co2 and emit oxygen. Simple. Less plants, more Co2. Simple. Rain forests. Mangroves. People.

Simple.

Gulliver - 4-4-2016 at 08:28 PM

Was in Loreto a few months ago when an amazing cruise ship was vomiting herds of fools onto the dock. I listened to one dolt ask another, "How do they get all these car here?"

They probably think a Mangrove is a juicy fruit that stains everything.

willardguy - 4-4-2016 at 08:36 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Gulliver

Was in Loreto a few months ago when an amazing cruise ship was vomiting herds of fools onto the dock. I listened to one dolt ask another, "How do they get all these car here?"

They probably think a Mangrove is a juicy fruit that stains everything.

They probably think all bajanomads are azzholes too. :rolleyes:

Whale-ista - 4-4-2016 at 09:02 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajabuddha

All plants suck up Co2 and emit oxygen. Simple. Less plants, more Co2. Simple. Rain forests. Mangroves. People.

Simple.

well, yes, but...did you read the article? this is new info based on recent research.

"Researchers at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography discovered that despite their short and stunted appearance, mangroves in these desert locations had surprisingly high rates of sequestering carbon underground. In some cases, the ability was several times greater than that of lush mangroves in tropical locations."

bezzell - 4-4-2016 at 09:29 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Whale-ista

Quote: Originally posted by bajabuddha

All plants suck up Co2 and emit oxygen. Simple. Less plants, more Co2. Simple. Rain forests. Mangroves. People.

Simple.

well, yes, but...did you read the article? this is new info based on recent research.

either drinking or reading comprehension probs.
good article

bajabuddha - 4-4-2016 at 10:01 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bezzell

Quote: Originally posted by Whale-ista

Quote: Originally posted by bajabuddha

All plants suck up Co2 and emit oxygen. Simple. Less plants, more Co2. Simple. Rain forests. Mangroves. People.

Simple.

well, yes, but...did you read the article? this is new info based on recent research.

either drinking or reading comprehension probs.
good article

If you can't attack the article or the logic, attack the author.

Thank you, dear troll. Point being, veg matter (veg eaters?) matter most to the ecological balance of mother earth's constant battle of oxygen/Co2 war for whatever causes put them both at odds. Mangroves? Heck yeah, and great article too, OP..... got the point first off. Here we go with yet another Battle Of The Wits.

Ya think when the comet hit in minus-65m (+-) and the S hit the F, maybe plants flourished? Ya think when the Vegans die cows will rule? Huh. Hope so, more burgers for me.

Die young, live HAPPY :lol:

[Edited on 4-5-2016 by bajabuddha]

bezzell - 4-5-2016 at 05:17 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajabuddha

Hope so, more burgers for me.

great. It's obviously workin' for ya!

(it's no crime to be drinking & posting ... simply rather obvious at times. that's all)

durrelllrobert - 4-5-2016 at 08:56 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajabuddha

Hope so, more burgers for me.

Who cares if cows create methane?

bezzell - 4-5-2016 at 09:15 AM

Quote: Originally posted by durrelllrobert

Quote: Originally posted by bajabuddha

Hope so, more burgers for me.

Who cares if cows create methane?

you're obviously oblivious to the perils of animal agriculture on our ecosystem.
oh well, ignorance is bliss

(look into it if you're ever interested .. you'll be shocked)

rts551 - 4-5-2016 at 09:22 AM

Vegetarians are consuming plants that suck up our Carbon Dioxide. Eat more seafood!

bezzell - 4-5-2016 at 09:26 AM

Quote: Originally posted by rts551

Vegetarians are consuming plants that suck up our Carbon Dioxide. Eat more seafood!

they're also eating eggs and butter and milk etc too ! those losers!

ignorance must truly be bliss! :lol:

[Edited on 4-5-2016 by bezzell]

carlosg - 4-5-2016 at 04:19 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Whale-ista

Baja's desert mangroves suck up carbon dioxide

Another reason to love our Baja coastal lagoons- and protect them.

...and probably saved Bahia Willard...

We just got back from Bahia de San Luis Gonzaga and after chatting with one of the local long time residents, I learned how the mangrove saved Bahia Willard... as I was told, when Carlos Slim planned to dig a marina just behind Alfonsina's, the CICESE stepped in and researched the area and found that mangle (mangrove) thrived in the small bay: and that seems to have stopped Slim's project on its tracks... hopefully forever...

norte - 4-6-2016 at 06:51 AM

Quote: Originally posted by carlosg

Quote: Originally posted by Whale-ista

Baja's desert mangroves suck up carbon dioxide

Another reason to love our Baja coastal lagoons- and protect them.

A marina probably would have helped the economy of the region. Not many mangles there to disrupt.

David K - 4-6-2016 at 07:05 AM

The lagoon between Percebu and Bahia Santa Maria is a mangrove, like Gonzaga's. Maybe that will prevent the dredging up of the flats there for that marina project? The tidal range there and sand drifting really makes a marina a failed plan. The lack of water dooms a golf course, and other facilities, too.

PaulW - 4-6-2016 at 07:47 AM

Santa Maria development has the necessary approvals for water. I assume it will be the same source as the San Felipe water which is the east end of Huatamote. Water source is the substantial valley Chico aquifer. This approval issue was a long process.

The marina issue was also a much delayed issue. It has been reported that the environmental approval was completed before the public development notice was made quite a while back.

All the above is old news.

Bajaboy - 4-6-2016 at 08:48 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

The lagoon between Percebu and Bahia Santa Maria is a mangrove, like Gonzaga's. Maybe that will prevent the dredging up of the flats there for that marina project? The tidal range there and sand drifting really makes a marina a failed plan. The lack of water dooms a golf course, and other facilities, too.

Never quite saw you as a tree hugger David. Good on ya!

David K - 4-6-2016 at 01:14 PM

It is a failed business idea imo... the only trees are cardon trees... not easy to hug!

PaulW - 4-6-2016 at 02:04 PM

Yes its hard to understand a big development in such an undeveloped region.

Obviously it is a very long term deal. No grid yet and still has a crappy road. It surely will fail without a real airport. However land with government approvals probably has some enhanced value for someone?

There is other speculation going on. The C. Slim investment in beach land is an example with no approvals for any development.

I guess most of us do not understand how the super rich view investments?

I see large parcels of desert being sold all the time and they are on the west side of Hwy 5 south of Hwy 3. Go figure what kind of speculation is going on there? One thing for sure is public access is being restricted. I guess more fences will soon appear?