Blue Carbon Policy Options Assessment

Mangroves, salt marshes, and sea grasses store significant amounts of carbon and have great greenhouse gas mitigation potential. To date these ecosystems – known as “blue carbon” - have largely fallen outside of international and national climate change mitigation policies.  This report was commissioned by the Linden Trust for Conservation to assess options for protecting and/or restoring blue carbon ecosystems under climate change policy and financing mechanisms.  The report analyses and prioritizes actions in the IPCC reporting guidelines, UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, regional and national emissions trading systems, the voluntary market amongst others. By advising on the most likely policy options to advance blue carbon, this report enables stakeholders to make informed decisions on where to focus efforts that will support the global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from these important ecosystems.