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Blue Carbon Project Guide
During 2013, the GRID-Arendal Blue Carbon Programme
combined two targeted MFA Work Programme outputs
(the development of a Blue Carbon ecosystem-based man-
agement strategy to support developing states and the
production of a Blue Carbon Action Plan for national gov-
ernments) into a deliverable for the Abu Dhabi Blue Car-
bon Demonstration Project: a report entitled Building Blue
Carbon Projects - An Introductory Guide. Rather than develop
potentially conflicting or duplicative reports, it was decided
that these efforts compliment and enhance each other and
that we could leverage Abu Dhabi’s interest to produce a
high quality product that would also meet our goals and
interests. The report is intended to assist developing states
in assessing their options for pursing Blue Carbon and eco-
system-based management projects. Prepared in collabo-
ration with many Blue Carbon partners,33 the report draws
on the experience of finalizing the GEF Blue Forests FSP,
including project partner discussions and case studies. The
report is expected to be published in January 2014.
Blue Carbon Portal
GRID-Arendal has continued to maintain the Blue Carbon
Portal,34 a comprehensive community-based website for all
matters related to blue carbon. The Portal is co-managed
33. Report partners included , ,
,
,
the Governments of Abu Dhabi, Indonesia and the Seychelles, and
leading scientists in the field of Blue Carbon.
34. C:\Users\luana\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\
Content.Outlook\SMKGGTOL
with UNEP and received over 11,600 visits during 2013,
with at least 8% of the visits coming from three develop-
ing nations (India, Indonesia and Kenya). GRID-Arendal
ensures high quality control on Portal posts and stories,
provides technical capacity for web site maintenance, and
solicits Portal stories from international Blue Carbon part-
ners. The Portal continues to support the rapidly grow-
ing Blue Carbon community and serves as a Blue Carbon
Network - a virtual space to connect, share ideas and re-
sources, and discuss issues. The Portal has been cited as
a “selected international online resource on Blue Carbon”
in a 2013 report issued by the Commonwealth Secretariat.35
additional components of the blue carbon pro-
gramme funded by other (non -mfa ) sources
Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project
The Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project was
initiated in November 2012 and is executed and managed
by GRID-Arendal through a NOK 10 million contract with
AGEDI. Although MFA funds have not been used in its
execution, we have used this project to leverage activities
and impact for our Blue Carbon Programme. During 2013
the entire project was offered by AGEDI’s main funder, the
Abu Dhabi Environment Agency,36 to the GEF Blue Forests
Project as 100% co-finance and is now considered one of
the five ‘featured interventions’ of the GEF project. The
Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project is expect-
ed to be completed in January 2014.
35. Laffoley, D.d’A., 2013. The management of coastal carbon sinks
in Vanuatu: realising the potential. A report to the Government of
Vanuatu. Commonwealth Secretariat. London.
36.
SIGNIFICANT OUTCOME: Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project
Significant results from the Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project present excellent policy targets and
examples of lessons learnt for the application of Blue Carbon through the other GEF Blue Forests Project interventions
and other international projects and efforts. Results to date include the following:
• The Emirate of Dubai will be using the project’s methodology and ecosystem services habitat protocols to carry
out similar assessments;
• The Northern Emirates, especially two important habitat sites, will be incorporated into future AGEDI Blue Carbon
work;
• Project findings have been incorporated into Abu Dhabi’s National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NB-
SAP) report;
• Project findings have been incorporated into the Abu Dhabi Environmental Performance Index (AD-EPI) report;
• Project findings have been incorporated into Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) business planning towards
the Climate Change programme;
• Project findings have been directly incorporated 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
• Project findings have been directly utilized by Abu Dhabi municipality.
Quote from H.E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General, Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD):
“Mangroves, along with the coastal ecosystem are key to maintained and improved sustainability of our Emirate. The Abu
Dhabi blue Carbon Demonstration Project is an invaluable initiative, not only for the duration of the project but beyond.
The experience and knowledge gained from this local project will help pave the way for other national blue carbon projects
and international efforts for a greener economy and natural climate change mitigation.”