Abstract

This study assessed the diversity, structure, composition, and carbon storage in a chronosequence of mangroves, in Níspero and San Buenaventura-Colorado Wetlands, Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica. Rhizophora mangle was the most important species in mangroves without impact in the past, while Laguncularia racemosa was the most important in age ranges from 1 to 10 years and from 11 to 20 years. Mean basal area in mangroves with no impact was 19,01 m2/ha, 0,35 m2/ha in mangroves from 1 to 10 years, and 0,16 m2/ha for mangroves from 11 to 20 years. Carbon stocks were higher in mangroves without impact in the past, and soil was the component with more carbon stored. The results from this study indicate that recovery of mangroves in these sites occurs differently in each one of them. Also, the time since impacted mangroves were abandoned does not determine their species composition, but the degradation levels of the sites after abandonment and land cover changes.

Keywords: Mangrove restoration; coastal ecosystems; blue carbon; environmental services