<![CDATA[Mangrove ecosystems play an essential role in blue carbon sequestration, with sediments serving as major reservoirs of organic carbon. However, the decline of mangrove forests on Kaledupa Island due to anthropogenic activities threatens their carbon storage capacity. This study aimed to analyze soil carbon stock in mangrove sediments on Kaledupa Island, Wakatobi National Park (SPTN II), Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. A quantitative approach with purposive sampling was employed at two sampling stations representing the sublittoral and supralittoral zones. Sediment samples were collected using a sediment corer at depths of 0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm. Laboratory analyses were conducted using the Loss on Ignition (LOI) method to determine bulk density, organic carbon content, and soil carbon stock. Bulk density ranged from 0.190 to 1.427 g cm⁻³, while organic carbon content varied between 8.078% and 39.096%. Soil carbon stock ranged from 148.294 to 285.470 Mg C ha⁻¹, with the highest value recorded at Station S2P2 (20–40 cm depth). The estimated total soil carbon stock of the study area was 141,405.76 Mg C, with an average of 202.014 Mg C ha⁻¹. These findings indicate that mangrove sediments on Kaledupa Island have a high potential for carbon storage and emphasize the importance of sustainable conservation and management to preserve this blue carbon ecosystem.]]>
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