The role of seagrass ecosystem in small islands as a blue carbon in climate change mitigation in Indonesia (case study: Lembeh Island, Bitung Regency)

Climate change phenomenon has occurred equally and globally all over the world during the last century, including Indonesia, which known as an archipelagic country with more than 17.000 islands, where most of the island considered as small islands. Lembeh Island known by its high biodiversity in marine resources, especially coral reef which associated with other coastal ecosystems such as mangrove and seagrasses and create a healthy environment. Seagrasses as a blue carbon ecosystem can be functioned as a carbon absorber from the atmosphere and storage in the sediment, and supported the climate change mitigation act in Indonesia. Based on field observation, Lembeh Island region has seven species from possible twelve seagrass species found in Indonesia. Enhalus acoroides and Thalassia Hemprichii dominated the seagrass existence in Lembeh Island with certain characteristics live in a sandy substrate, muddy area or coral reefs. Seagrass in Lembeh Island has potency on biomass carbon as much as 0.96 ± 1.327 MgCha −1 (mostly autochthonous), which lower than the potency of carbon stored in sediment reached more than 40 MgCha −1 (mostly allochthonous). Seagrass ecosystem play an important role in climate change mitigation act and should be supported, developed and collaborated with other coastal ecosystems sucha as coral reefs and mangroves.