Biomass and vegetation carbon stock in mangrove forests of the Andaman Islands, India

The present study estimated plant biomass in mangrove forests of the Andaman Islands, India. The mean above-ground biomass was 469.20 +/- 41.25 Mega-gram/ha (Mg ha(-1)), while the mean below-ground biomass was 166.78 +/- 12.79 Mg ha(-1). The total mean biomass of Andaman mangrove forest was 635.98 +/- 12.79 Mg ha(-1) and its corresponding vegetation carbon stock was 290.26 +/- 24.75 Mg C ha(-1.) Among the 6 forest divisions, Little Andaman recorded the highest mean biomass per unit area (1,081.26 +/- 424.67 Mg ha(-1)) and vegetation carbon stock (494.50 +/- 194.56 Mg C ha(-1)) followed by Middle Andaman, North Andaman, Havelock, South Andaman and Baratang. Among the 25 mangrove species, Rhizophora apiculata was found to contribute the highest biomass (152.78 Mg ha(-1)) and vegetation carbon stock (69.58 Mg C ha(-1)) followed by Bruguiera gymnorhiza, and Rhizophora mucronata. High vegetation carbon stock in mangrove forests of the Andaman Island could be attributed to high structural complexity, high precipitation rate (> 300 cm year(-1)), and comparatively fewer anthropogenic disturbances in the mangrove forest of the Andaman Islands. However, the Andaman Islands are increasingly vulnerable to natural calamities, like sea-level rise and associated soil erosion and increasing frequency of tropical cyclones, which call for immediate attention on preserving the island mangroves to sustain its extraordinary carbon storage capacity.