Peatland Conservation
Our oceans and coastal ecosystems play a vital role in regulating the climate and providing a home for a diverse array of plants and animals. Increasingly, these wonderfully complex ecosystems are being adversely impacted by human activity. This includes overfishing, waste, pollution and habitat destruction. Blue carbon projects rebuild natural marine environments, which are also the largest carbon sinks on Earth, in two ways.
80% of the Southern Hemisphere and 60% of the Northern Hemisphere is covered in water, in which lies an enormous but underutilised opportunity for sequestering and storing carbon. “Today, blue carbon strategies of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions through the conservation and restoration of [marine] habitats have been adopted by many nations as a key means to their commitments under the Paris Agreement,” says Professor Duarte of Marine Science at KAUST. And the World Economic Forum reported last year that interest in blue carbon projects had reached an all‑time high. Some have observed that the integrity of projects remains a concern. Blue carbon is a long way from fulfilling its potential.
However there are many good examples of blue carbon projects being successfully implemented. In Saudi Arabia, a project has begun restoring and preserving mangroves. Growing optimally in brackish waters, mangroves absorb large volumes of carbon and provide critical habitats for many marine species. Red Sea mangroves are six times more effective at absorbing carbon than those in other parts of the world, which makes Saudi Arabia, with its vast coastline, an excellent region for blue carbon projects.
A recent study by Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology evidenced the importance of international mangrove restoration, finding that “ambitious global targets for mangrove restoration could, if successful, deliver global benefits of carbon sequestration, fisheries production, biodiversity and coastal protection.” A great example has been the work in the Mekong Delta. 1,500 km² of mangrove forests have been restored following the destruction of around 55% during the Vietnam War. Today, these mangroves provide habitats for diverse species of marine wildlife and sequester 24 million tonnes of carbon each year, the equivalent to 10% of Vietnam’s annual emissions.
Mangroves also play a vital role in protecting coastal communities from storms and erosion and their value is placed globally at least US$1.6 billion. And by sequestrating six times more carbon than land‑based forests, the environmental value of mangroves is immeasurable.
The list of benefits derived from blue carbon projects is long. In addition to absorbing carbon 30 times faster than land‑based forests, they also protect against storms and soil erosion, filter pollutants from water, enhance habitats for a variety of species and contribute to food security. Misui’s investment in Japanese seagrass is a great example of the benefits of these projects. The preservation of seagrass across the Japanese coastline has been instrumental in providing food security for local Green Sea Turtle populations, stabilising the sea floor, and improving biodiversity.
Blue carbon projects also ‘localise’ net‑zero commitments in coastal regions, meaning that local communities benefit through the job opportunities, infrastructure investment and improved environment quality. By preserving and protecting vital marine ecosystems, we reduce carbon levels, help local businesses and communities, and protect marine and land environments. A clear win‑win‑win for the economy, society, and the planet.
