Building Blue Carbon Projects - An Introductory Guide

for Blue Carbon assessment are defined. Demonstration phase : This phase involves the exploration of and demonstration of the valuation of Blue Carbon and the identifying of options for this value to be incorporated into improved ecosystem policy and management. Here, it is also decided how the value of Blue Carbon may be employed - through carbon finance, conservation agreements, recognition in policy and management, or other mechanisms. Good data and information are critically important for the demonstration phase - with assessments of Blue Carbon ecosystems, evaluations of governance options, and more. Implementation phase : This phase addresses how Blue Carbon can be implemented and results in improved coastal ecosystem management, as well as how it can be adjusted over time to stay effective and sustainable over the long-term.

Potential Blue Carbon Project Stakeholders Resource users Local coastal communities living around blue forests that depend on them for livelihoods and food security Private sector Tourism / recreation – coastal tourism and ecotourism, hotels, cruise ship industry that gain revenue from healthy blue forests ecosystems Fisheries / food security – fisheries organizations and food security stakeholders that rely on blue forests ecosystem health Flood / storm protection – insurance agencies, disaster relief agencies Carbon market - companies and bodies that buy carbon credits or pay for ecosystem services or facilitate such markets Development / investment - bodies involved in other aspects of coastal development that may impact blue forests ecosystems Science and academia Local and national universities and students Regional and international scientists working on other Blue Carbon projects and efforts

3.2 Conducting a Blue Carbon Scoping Study

Undertaking a scoping study (or feasibility assessment) is a first step in understanding what Blue Carbon activities are best suited to a particular site or region. A scoping study provides an overview of a Blue Carbon ecosystem, stimulates and or gauges the interest of relevant stakeholders, and uses a consultative process to set overarching goals for a Blue Carbon project. Priorities of a Blue Carbon scoping study may include: Identifying target geographic areas of Blue Carbon ecosystems and the drivers of loss or degradation; Understanding and building interest, expanding participation, and creating settings for sectors and stakeholders to converge; Establishing a common understanding of Blue Carbon and options for a project; Taking stock of existing relevant management practices and policies, scientific capacity and data resources; and Identifying potential ecosystem services whose value could be leveraged to support the project’s  activities  and  goals (e.g., shoreline protections, safeguarding commercial fishing stocks (see Sections 4 and 5)) and understanding potential social and environmental risks. Appendix 1 provides an extensive list of suggested questions for use during a scoping study that will help guide the development of a future Blue Carbon demonstration project. One deliverable Policy, management and decision-making Local - community groups, local protected area authority National – environmental management and climate change authorities International – international commitments (RAMSAR, UNFCCC, CBD) Figure 4 Potential Blue Carbon project stakeholders.

Building Blue Carbon Projects An Introductory Guide

Page 26