Building Blue Carbon Projects - An Introductory Guide

Blue Carbon projects can work! Strong signals from the UAE and Kenya indicate that Blue Carbon is being recognized for the first time in marine and coastal ecosystem policy and management, including at national and local scales, and can achieve the dual goals of climate mitigation and improved and sustainable marine and coastal ecosystem management. Significant results from the Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project to date include the following (illustrated further in Case Study 8.1): Project findings are being recognized in policy and management though: o incorporation into  Abu  Dhabi’s  National  Biodiversity  Strategies  and  Action  Plans   (NBSAP) report; o incorporation into the Abu Dhabi Environmental Performance Index (AD-EPI) report; o incorporation into Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) business planning towards the Climate Change programme; o incorporation into the Abu Dhabi 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan (Abu Dhabi Capital 2030), planning for the Al Gharbia Region (Al Gharbia 2030) and marine spatial plans; and o utilization by the Abu Dhabi municipality. The Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI) will continue the exploration of Blue Carbon in the Northern Emirates; and The Emirate of Dubai will utilize the methodology and ecosystem services habitat protocols of the project in carrying out similar assessments. Significant results to date from the Mikoko Pamoja project in Gazi Bay, Kenya, include the following (illustrated further in Case Study 8.2): An agreement was successfully negotiated with the local community regarding the allocation of money generated by the sale of Blue Carbon credits, with approximately two thirds identified for the conservation of mangroves and for community benefit; The Kenyan Government has supported local rights and authority regarding Blue Carbon through the issuing of a Forest Management Agreement to the Gazi Bay community; and The project has successfully completed verification and awaits Plan Vivo certification to start Blue Carbon offsetting. These results present excellent lessons learnt and targets for the further application of Blue Carbon through other international projects and initiatives.

Building Blue Carbon Projects An Introductory Guide

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