Blue Economy

Valuation Toolkit
Online Course
August 2022

knowledge.uneca.org/idep/

MODULE 2
Chapter 4 Blue Carbon
Pierre Failler
 OUTLINE

01 INTRODUCTION TO BLUE CARBON

CONCEPT | ROLE WITHIN THE BLUE ECONOMY

02 KEY MESSAGES
BLUE CARBON AND CLIMATE CHANGE

03 FURTHER READING AND MATERIALS

 INTRODUCTION TO BLUE CARBON

Blue carbon is the carbon stored in coastal and marine

ecosystems. Coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, tidal
marshes and seagrass meadows sequester and store carbon
at rates that are comparable to (and often higher than) than the
sequestration rates in carbon-rich terrestrial ecosystems, such as
tropical rainforests.

The importance of blue carbon:

• The conservation, restoration and sustainable use of these systems
are therefore essential can support climate change mitigation and
adaptation.
• Up to 67% of the historical global mangrove range, 35% of tidal salt
marshes, and 29% of seagrasses have been lost.
• Commitments to the conservation of blue carbon ecosystems can
serve as a signal to multiple potential avenues for financial support
and development of blue economies.
 BLUE CARBON AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Countries with coastal wetlands — mangroves, seagrasses and

tidal salt marshes — can recognize the values provided by these
ecosystems as a potentially significant contribution to both the
mitigation and adaptation goals of their Nationally Determined
Contributions.

Examples of methods used to value blue carbon ecosystem services

Method Services measured
Market price Food, raw material, climate regulation (via carbon
approach sequestration), and opportunities for recreation and tourism

Benefits transfer All categories of ecosystem services provided by blue

carbon ecosystems
Avoided cost and Waste treatment and moderation of extreme events
replacement cost
Production Food and nursery ground (i.e., maintenance of life cycles)
functions provision
 FURTHER READING AND MATERIALS

1. AU-IBAR (2019). The African Union Blue Economy Strategy. Nairobi, Kenya.
https://www.au-ibar.org/sites/default/files/2020-10/sd_20200313_africa_blue_economy_strategy_en.pdf

2. Himes-Cornell, A., L. Pendleton, and P. Atiyah. (2018). Valuing ecosystem services from blue forests: A systematic review of the valuation of salt marshes, sea
grass beds and mangrove forests. Ecosystem Services, 30, 36-48.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2018.01.006

3. Palacios MM, Waryszak P, Costa, MDP, Wartman M, Ebrahim A, Macreadie PI. 2021 Literature Review: Blue Carbon research in the Tropical Western Indian
Ocean WIO. A report submitted to the Seychelles Conservation & Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT). Deakin University, Australia, 80pp.
https://seyccat.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BlueCarbonLab_LitReport_Seychelles_20210301_final.pdf

4. The Blue carbon initiative (2019). Coastal blue carbon methods for assessing carbon stocks and emissions factors in mangroves, tidal salt marshes, and
seagrass meadows
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c7463aaa9ab95163e8c3c2e/t/5cc2bdd843c22f0001eefc91/1556266479156/English_Blue_Carbon_LR_190306.pdf

5. The Blue carbon initiative (2019a). Blue Carbon and Nationally Determined Contributions. Guidelines on Enhanced Action. A guide on how countries may
include blue carbon in their Nationally Determined Contributions
https://www.thebluecarboninitiative.org/policy-guidance

6. The Blue carbon initiative (2015). Guidance for national blue carbon activities
https://www.iucn.org/downloads/national_recommendations_final.pdf

7. UNECA. (2016). The Blue economy in Africa. UNECA.

https://www.uneca.org/blue-economy
THANK YOU!
https://knowledge.uneca.org/idep/