BRIN Research: The Highest Carbon Emission Factor in Indonesia is Java-Sumatera

JAKARTA - The latest research by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) revealed that the carbon emission factor from the mangrove ecosystem in Indonesia is not uniform, with the Java region and part of Sumatra showing the highest value compared to other coastal areas.

Researcher at the BRIN Oceanography Research Center Aan Johan Wahyudi, through a statement in Jakarta, Saturday, January 17, explained that the degradation of the seagrass in the western region of Indonesia has the potential to release carbon into the atmosphere in greater quantities than other regions.

"If we talk about blue carbon, so far the focus has always been on absorption. In fact, in carbon accounting, what is calculated is not only what is absorbed, but also what is emitted," said Aan, quoted by Antara.

He used the method of calculating the carbon emission factor of seagrass. The emission factor is a number that describes how much carbon is released into the atmosphere per unit area of the ecosystem per year due to degradation or disturbance.

"In the context of the seagrass ecosystem, emission factors indicate the rate of carbon loss that was previously stored in the seagrass biomass, and potentially also reflect the initial process of carbon release from the coastal system," he said.

Aan also used the chronosequence modeling approach, by comparing the still relatively good condition of the seagrass field with that which has been degraded, to estimate the changes in carbon conditions over time.

The results of the analysis show that the carbon emission factor of seagrass in Indonesia is in the range of 0.53 to 3.25 tons of carbon per hectare per year. The highest value was found in areas with high coastal pressure, especially Java and part of Sumatra.

Conversely, regions such as Nusa Tenggara, parts of Sulawesi, and Maluku show lower emission factor values.

"Anthropogenic pressure in densely populated areas makes the potential for emissions greater," he said.

Aan explained that the function of carbon storage can change when seagrass experiences disturbances. Human activities in coastal areas, such as reclamation, dredging, and increased sedimentation, can inhibit seagrass growth and trigger ecosystem degradation, as well as cause carbon release or emissions.

He added that lamun indeed has the ability to filter sediment, but this ability still has limits. If the amount of sediment that enters is too large, the balance of the ecosystem will be disturbed.

"Simply put, when the lamun is healthy, carbon is absorbed and stored. However, when it is damaged, for example due to reclamation or dredging (then) the leaves, roots, and other parts of the lamun undergo decomposition. This decomposition process is what releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere," said Aan Johan Wahyudi.