The economic benefit of coastal blue carbon stocks in Edku Lake: A case study at the Mediterranean Sea

As a case study to assess changes of blue carbon stocks among different land use classes; lake Edku, Egypt, was selected at the north Mediterranean coast of Egypt. Landsat 5 and 8 satellites imageries (1994, 2008, and 2022) were downloaded and upon classification, there were five land use classes identified: artificial surfaces (including barren and urban areas), crops, flooded vegetation, sabkha, and water. Using InVEST model, the quantity and economic value of the coastal blue carbon sequestration (CBCS) service offered by lake Edku were modelled. Based on land use classification of lake Edku, those area that were classified as surface water and croplands were decreased from 1994 to 2022. On the other hand, aerial coverage of the artificial surface increased. Analyses for Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Soil Adjusted Vegeation Index (SAVI) indicated that the amount of carbon stocks estimated by ground inventory was best predicted during year of 2022 (R-2= 0.449, P value < 0.01). Our economic analyses of CBCS provided by lake Edku between 1994 and 2022 was 0.6507 (10(6) Mg C ha(-1)), which has a value of about $49 millions. Per year, lake Edku sequester carbon that worth about $1.7 million. Our study concluded that CBCS service can hasten the adoption of wetland rehabilitation measures, which have a favourable effect on climate regulation. (c) 2024 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.