AsiaFlux-2026 Session Proposal

Coastal Interface under Climate Change: Responses and Feedback

Conveners:         

Keywords: blue carbon; land–ocean continuum; eddy covariance

Blue carbon ecosystems, including mangroves, salt marshes, seagrasses, tidal forests, and mudflats, rank among the most carbon-dense environments on Earth. As vibrant interfaces between land and ocean, these coastal ecosystems can be powerful nature-based solutions to mitigate residual anthropogenic emissions while delivering indispensable co-benefits, including biodiversity preservation and coastal protection. However, the resilience of these ecosystems is increasingly threatened by compounding climate change impacts and intensifying human pressures. Safeguarding their capacity to sequester carbon requires a deeper, more integrated understanding of their biogeochemical cycles, specifically the feedback loops between soil and vegetation, and the dynamic carbon exchanges spanning the atmosphere, soil, and aquatic continuum.

To address these critical knowledge gaps, this session seeks to bring together a multidisciplinary community of scientists, including biogeochemists, ecologists, geographers, geologists, biologists, and social scientists, alongside environmental managers and policymakers. By bridging perspectives across the natural and social sciences, the session aims to showcase pioneering research that:

• Advances process-level understanding – Exploring the dynamics of biomass and carbon cycling within blue carbon ecosystems under both current and projected environmental conditions.

• Spotlights actionable management – Highlighting effective conservation, management, and restoration practices designed to sustain or enhance carbon sequestration and broader ecosystem services.

• Supports in Voluntary Carbon Market – Evaluating developments if monitoring and reporting methods and application of theoretical concepts to improve carbon accounting.

Asia’s vast and diverse coastlines are at the forefront of global blue carbon dynamics. By coupling ecological functioning with socioeconomic needs, this session will foster holistic dialogues and cross-disciplinary collaborations. Ultimately, we aim to translate cutting-edge scientific insights into robust strategies for coastal sustainability, ensuring these vital ecosystems continue to function as resilient carbon sinks and cornerstone assets for coastal communities.