The Dual Role of Carbon Sink Protected Areas in Biodiversity Conservation and Carbon Reduction—Take Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve as an Example

Chenrui Zhang

doi:10.71222/kksc4347

Authors

Chenrui Zhang Shanghai Starriver Bilingual School, Shanghai, 201100, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71222/kksc4347

Keywords:

carbon sink protected area, mangrove ecosystem, biodiversity conservation, carbon storage assessment, ecological restoration

Abstract

Against the backdrop of accelerating global climate change, carbon sink protected areas like mangrove forests have attracted growing attention, as they can mitigate global warming while delivering co-benefits for biodiversity and livelihoods. This study focuses on a representative mangrove ecosystem in southern China to evaluate the outcomes of ecological restoration from the perspectives of carbon reduction and species protection. Using satellite remote sensing data, the study analyzed changes in mangrove coverage to estimate carbon sink potential. Simultaneously, bird monitoring records were reviewed to assess trends in biodiversity. The research investigates the impact of mangrove restoration on regional carbon storage and local biodiversity. Results show that the expansion of mangrove areas significantly increased carbon storage, while the abundance and diversity of indicator species increased. This synergistic effect amplifies the ecological benefits of carbon reduction and species protection, producing outcomes greater than the sum of their parts. The findings underscore the critical role of mangrove reserves in climate regulation and ecological recovery, and the potential of carbon sink protected areas as integrated solutions to climate and biodiversity crises.

References

1. P. Jia, W. Huang, Z. Zhang, J. Cheng, Y. Xiao, et al., "The carbon sink of mangrove ecological restoration between 1988–2020 in Qinglan Bay, Hainan Island, China," Forests, vol. 13, no. 10, p. 1547, 2022, doi: 10.3390/f13101547.

2. J. J. Zhu and B. Yan, "Blue carbon sink function and carbon neutrality potential of mangroves," Sci. Total Environ., vol. 822, p. 153438, 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153438.

3. S. Xu, S. Liu, and Y. Liu, "From case study to general principle: An analysis of the development mechanism and policy opti-mization of mangrove carbon sinks," J. Clean. Prod., vol. 473, p. 143537, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.143537.

4. Y. Xiao, et al., "International mangrove carbon sink research analysis," Reg. Stud. Mar. Sci., vol. 77, p. 103681, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103681.

5. M. M. Rahman, et al., "Co-benefits of protecting mangroves for biodiversity conservation and carbon storage," Nat. Commun., vol. 12, no. 1, p. 3875, 2021, doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-24207-4.

6. P. Y. A. P. Wirabuana, et al., "Mangroves, fauna compositions and carbon sequestration after ten years restoration on Flores Island, Indonesia," Sci. Rep., vol. 15, no. 1, p. 4866, 2025, doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-87307-x.

7. X. Shi, et al., "Dynamic estimation of mangrove carbon storage in Hainan Island based on the InVEST-PLUS model," Forests, vol. 15, no. 5, p. 750, 2024, doi: 10.3390/f15050750.

8. A. S. Dajam, et al., "Mangrove (Avicennia marina) conservation contributed to a higher carbon sequestration rate at protected sites compared to overgrazed mangrove forests," J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 4868–4879, 2024, doi: 10.1007/s42729-024-01878-8.

9. J. Bai, et al., "Mangrove diversity enhances plant biomass production and carbon storage in Hainan island, China," Funct. Ecol., vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 774–786, 2021, doi: 10.1111/1365-2435.13753.

10. L. Duncanson, et al., "The effectiveness of global protected areas for climate change mitigation," Nat. Commun., vol. 14, no. 1, p. 2908, 2023, doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-38073-9.

11. G. Wang, "Performance evaluation and optimization of photovoltaic systems in urban environments," Int. J. New Dev. Eng. Soc., vol. 9, pp. 42–49, 2025, doi: 10.25236/IJNDES.2025.090106.

12. Y. Zeng, L. P. Koh, and D. S. Wilcove, "Gains in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services from the expansion of the planet’s protected areas," Sci. Adv., vol. 8, no. 22, p. eabl9885, 2022, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abl9885.

13. M. Sievers, et al., "Co-occurrence of biodiversity, carbon storage, coastal protection, and fish and invertebrate production to inform global mangrove conservation planning," Sci. Total Environ., vol. 904, p. 166357, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166357.

14. B. Feng, et al., "Identification of suitable mangrove distribution areas and estimation of carbon stocks for mangrove protection and restoration action plan in China," J. Mar. Sci. Eng., vol. 12, no. 3, p. 445, 2024, doi: 10.3390/jmse12030445.

15. S. B. Ratul, et al., "Blue carbon sequestration following mangrove restoration: evidence from a carbon neutral case in China," Ecosyst. Health Sustain., vol. 8, no. 1, p. 2101547, 2022, doi: 10.1080/20964129.2022.2101547.

16. X. Guo, et al., "Impact of Ecological Restoration on Carbon Sink Function in Coastal Wetlands: A Review," Water, vol. 17, no. 4, p. 488, 2025, doi: 10.3390/w17040488.

17. S. Liu, S. He, and S. Chen, "Potential carbon stock distribution of mangrove and synergistic effect of ecosystem services in China," Ecol. Indic., vol. 178, p. 113931, 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113931.

18. Y. Zheng, W. Takeuchi, and Q. Jiang, "Assessing mangrove conservation in China by integrating mangrove ecosystem into ecological footprint accounting," Ocean Coast. Manage., vol. 242, p. 106728, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106728.