D.G.K. Ketaren, I.M. Radjawane, H. Latief, F. Sidik, S.W. Trenggono, S.D. Diantara, N.A.R. Setyawidati, M.I. Akbar, J.A.L. Raja, M.A. Farkhan, K. Kasim, S. Maharani
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mangrove ecosystems are critical blue carbon reservoirs, yet carbon dynamics in intensively used coastal landscapes remain poorly understood. Along the northern coast of Java, aquaculture expansion, rehabilitation, and community-based management coexist within the same coastal mosaic. The objective of this study is to analyze the effects of land-use trajectory influences ecosystem carbon stocks and carbon partitioning across recovered, semi-natural, and degraded mangrove systems. METHODS: The total carbon stocks of the ecosystem, which encompass aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, and soil organic carbon to a depth of 150 centimeters, were measured at representative locations. Differences among land-use treatments were tested using non-parametric statistics (Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's tests), and Spearman correlation analysis was applied to assess relationships between years since land-use change and carbon stocks. Community interviews were utilized to frame management practices and the historical context of land use. FINDINGS: Total ecosystem carbon stocks ranged from 121.63 ± 33.91 to 217.86 ± 161.27 megagrams of carbon per hectare, with the highest values observed in semi-natural mangrove systems and the lowest in long-term degraded sites. The statistical analyses revealed that total carbon stocks did not differ significantly among recovered, semi-natural, and degraded mangroves. Instead, land-use trajectories strongly influenced carbon partitioning. Soil carbon dominated ecosystem carbon storage, contributing 71.8–93.5 percent of total carbon, while biomass carbon accounted for only 6.5–29 percent. Vertical soil profiles demonstrated that the lower soil layers (50–150 centimeters) possessed the largest carbon stocks, implying that carbon storage is controlled by long-term sedimentary processes. Correlation analyses showed weak relationships between total carbon stocks and years since land-use change, highlighting strong legacy effects in subsurface carbon pools. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that mangrove carbon storage in working coastal landscapes is controlled by sediment properties, hydrological connectivity, and long-term disturbance history, rather than land-use classification alone. The lasting presence of deep soil carbon pools elucidates the reason behind the relatively stable carbon stocks in ecosystems, particularly in aquaculture-dominated areas where there is considerable variation in vegetation structure. Effective blue carbon management should therefore prioritize protecting existing soil carbon and maintaining hydrological connectivity, particularly in semi-natural systems with long-term sediment stability. This study provides empirical evidence supporting process-based mangrove management and more nuanced coastal land-use policies in rapidly developing tropical coastlines. ©2026 The author(s). This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third-party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this license, visit: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Faculty of Earth Sciences and Technology, Bandung Institute of Technology, JI. Ganesa No.10, Lb. Silwangj, Kecamatan Coblong, Jawa Barat, Kota Bandung, Indonesia; U Connectivity Services, Menara MTH, 6th Floor, JI. Let. Jend. M.T. Haryono Kav. 23, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia; Physical Oceanography, Bandung Institute of Technology, Jl. Ganesa No.10, Lb. Siliwangi, Kecamatan Coblong, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia; National Research and Innovation Agency, JI. Pasir Putih I, Ancol Timur, Jakarta Utara, Indonesia; Oceanography, Faculty of Earth Science and Technology, Bandung Institute of Technology, Jl. Ganesa No.10, Lb. Siliwangi, Kecamatan Coblong, Kota Bandung, Jakarta Utara, Indonesia; Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Gedung Mina Bahari 1, 7th Floor, Jl. Merdeka Timur, Gambir, Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia; Ministry of Defense, Jl. Budi Kemulyaan No 4-6, Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia; Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Gedung Mina Bahari 2, 15th Floor, Jl. Merdeka Timur, Gambir, Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia; Ocean Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology, Jl. Ganesa No.10, Lb. Siliwangi, Kecamatan Coblong, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia; Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Brawijaya University, Jl. Veteran, Ketawanggede, Kec. Lowokwaru, Kota Malang, Jawa Timur, Indonesia
