Global potential and limits of mangrove blue carbon for climate change mitigation

• Published in: Current biology Vol. 31; no. 8; pp. 1737 - 1743.e3
• Main Authors: Zeng, Yiwen, Friess, Daniel A., Sarira, Tasya Vadya, Siman, Kelly, Koh, Lian Pin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 26.04.2021
• Subjects: additionality; Carbon; carbon credits; carbon financing; Carbon Sequestration; Climate Change; coastal wetlands; Conservation of Natural Resources; Ecosystem; forest protection; Forests; nationally determined contribution; Paris Agreement; payment for ecosystem services; voluntary carbon markets; Wetlands; carbon credits; Paris Agreement; carbon financing; coastal wetlands; voluntary carbon markets; additionality; nationally determined contribution; forest protection; payment for ecosystem services
• ISSN: 0960-9822; 1879-0445
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.070

Despite the outsized role of mangrove forests in sustaining biodiversity, ecosystem function, and local livelihoods, the protection of these vital habitats through blue carbon financing has been limited.1,2 Here, we quantify the extent of this missed conservation and financial opportunity, showing that the protection of ∼20% of the world’s mangrove forests (2.6 Mha) can be funded through carbon financing. Of these investible areas, 1.1–1.3 Mha can be financially sustainable over a 30-year time frame based on carbon prices of US$5–9.4 t−1CO2e. This contributes up to 29.8 MtCO2e year−1 and yields a return on investment of ∼US$3.7 billion per year. Our results point toward a disproportionately large potential of blue carbon finance that can be leveraged to meet national-level climate mitigation goals, particularly if combined with other conservation interventions that further safeguard carbon stocks and biodiversity in these irreplaceable forests. Robust information on return on investment highlights the potential for currently underutilized tropical coastal carbon credit projects. •We quantify the global potential and limits of carbon financing for mangroves•∼20% of mangrove forests can qualify for blue carbon financing•∼10% will be financially sustainable—contributing up to 29.8 MtCO2eyr−1•Blue carbon financing is important at a national level, but has limited global potential While mangroves are vital for climate change mitigation, Zeng et al. find that ∼20% and ∼10% of global mangrove forests can qualify for blue carbon financing and is financially sustainable over 30 years. Despite this limited global potential, mangrove blue carbon can be a financially viable means of meeting national-level climate goals.