BLUE CARBON

Pioneering Coastal Blue Carbon project in ASEAN

Mangroves, tidal salt marshes, and seagrasses are some of the most threaten yet critical ecosystems in our planet. They are some of the richest carbon sinks in the world and absorb more carbon than their terrestrial counterparts.

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Coastal ecosystems support the biodiversity of our oceans and contribute to people’s ability to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, they protect them from storms and sea level rise, and are home to numerous commercially important and endangered marine species around the world.

Despite their benefits and services, scientists estimate that 67% of of the historical global mangrove range have been lost to deforestation & aquaculture. Once these ecosystems are degraded or destroyed, their blue carbon stores ​​are released as carbon dioxide and contribute to global climate change.

Some of the most vulnerable coastal ecosystems are found in South East Asia where the risks of climate change are already being felt in the form of destructive floods and typhons. The first Blue Carbon project undertaken in Asia, provides the scientific basis for the protection of endangered mangroves.

By working with local governments, communities and NGOs, Conservation International is leading the International Blue Carbon Initiative, which focuses on mitigating climate change by conserving and restoring coastal marine ecosystems globally.