Mangroves take up (sequester) approximately:

• 1.5 metric tons/hectare/yr of carbon

• 3.7 lbs/acre/day of carbon (1336 lbs/acre/yr)

In the United States

The average American generates more than 20 tons of CO₂ or related gases a year. Driving an average passenger car accounts for almost 30% of this total, or 11,450 lbs of CO₂/yr  (5.2 metric tons CO₂/yr), according to the US Environmental Protection Agency - EPA.

(fuel consumption based on fleetwide average in-use fuel economy of 21.5 mpg for passenger cars, EPA).

Thus, 8.5 acres (3.5 hectares) of mangroves are capable of absorbing the carbon emissions of one typical American passenger automobile per year.

• Outside of the United States

Mangroves' sequestration of carbon equals the approximate annual amount of carbon released to the atmosphere by a typical automobile burning around 2,500 liters (~ 360 gallons) of gasoline per year.

Dr. Jim Ong of the Universiti Sams in Malaysia, suggests that “Indonesia, with her 4.5 million hectares of mangrove, can use her mangroves to scrub the carbon dioxide emissions of some 5 million cars…”

Learn how you can support MAP's mangrove restoration program