Originally published in February 15, 2024.
Blue carbon. Have you heard about it?
It refers to carbon stored in the above and belowground biomass and rich soil pools of coastal and marine environments.
You may recall that Portugal established its voluntary carbon market earlier this year and specifically mentioning blue carbon.
Mangroves, tidal salt marshes, and seagrass meadows sequester and store more carbon per unit area than terrestrial forests. We repeat: sequester and store more carbon per unit area than terrestrial forests.
According to the Terms of Reference of Verra's Blue Carbon Working Group (WG), created in early 2020, although such ecosystems currently cover less than 2% of total ocean area, they account for almost 50% of the total carbon stored in ocean sediments.
Here for a list of advisory or working groups and committees with Verra's relevant participation, like Blue Carbon Working Group. In there you will be able to know which other entities are joinig forces with Verra with regard to blue carbon.
It is also important to know that Verra has currently two methodologies related to coastal and tidal blue carbon ecosystems:
Conservation and Restoration, REDD+ methodology framework (REDD+MF) (VM0007)
Restoration, methodology for Tidal Wetland and Seagrass Restoration (VM0033)
Click at the image to know more.
By the way, did you know that on February 2 is celebrated the World Wetlands Day? Click here to know more. And here.
There are several great references, like this Briefing Note "The contribution of blue carbon ecosystems to climate change mitigation".
