Utilization of the Mangrove Forest for Sustainable Renewable Energy Production

Abstract

The tropics are generally evergreen and have large tree populations that make up the bulk of plant biomass. The Niger Delta is rich in biodiversity and has the largest mangrove system in Africa and the Atlantic. Above ground biomass (ABG) is a good indicator of stand productivity in mangroves, and can be calculated with allometric method using tree structural characteristics of dbh and tree height. Red mangroves are the most dominant species, and the species mostly used for making firewood and charcoal. The carbon stock estimates was higher in locations with more red mangrove trees (66.1 ± 15.1 Mgha-1) than locations with fewer red mangrove trees (36.0 ± 12.8 Mgha-1), which indicates that they are excellent carbon sequesters. Mangrove forest therefore supplies low cost renewable energy and also reduces global warming through carbon sequestration. Already, utilization of firewood and charcoal for cooking is a booming business in many communities in the Niger Delta. But the issue is that deriving sustainable energy from mangrove forest requires modern technology. Energy production from mangrove raw material will reduce the burden of energy generation from petroleum. This will thus, save the environment from pollution from oil and gas exploration which has led to ozone layer depletion. Nonetheless, mangrove-derived biomass energy will thus save the environment from sulphur and radioactive contamination.