Blue Carbon is the carbon stored and sequestered by mangrove forests, tidal marshes and seagrass meadows in coastal and marine ecosystems. PNZ supports the Blue Carbon Initiative to promote restoration and sustainable use of these environments, which are essential to climate change adaptation and mitigation. They provide protection from storms and rising sea levels, prevent shoreline erosion and serve as a habitat for the fisheries essential to global food security. But these coastal ecosystems are under threat. According to scientific estimates, climate change has destroyed up to 67% of the world’s mangrove forests, 35% of tidal marshes, and 29% of seagrass meadows. If the trend continues, an additional 30% to 40% of tidal marshes and seagrass meadows – and nearly all mangrove forests – will disappear in the next 100 years. This would turn regions currently vital to carbon sequestration into huge sources of greenhouse gas.
are a type of tropical forest in coastal areas regularly flooded with salty tidal water. Mangrove forests sequester 2 to 4 times more carbon than mature tropical forests.
are coastal wetlands containing deep soils that are regularly flooded with salty tidal water. Tidal marshes sequester 2 to 4 times more carbon than mature tropical forests.
is an underwater plant with deep roots that grows in meadows along the shore. Seagrass stores nearly twice as much carbon per hectare as tropical forests.
Learn how you can help preserve global coastal ecosystems today and for future generations.