9 December 2014: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) released a set of reports highlighting the extraordinary value of mangroves, including as carbon stores. The reports also note that mangroves, which are disappearing faster than terrestrial forests, are not yet fully benefiting from carbon financing.

The first report, ‘Guiding Principles for Delivering Coastal Wetland Carbon Projects’ suggests that the limited development of methodologies for carbon accounting in mangroves and the lack of inclusion of mangroves in some definitions of forests may be inhibiting their inclusion in REDD+. As such, the report presents a number of options for the development of projects that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or increase carbon sequestration.

In particular, the guiding principles state that the conservation of existing coastal carbon pools is the easiest approach although coastal wetland restoration technologies are available. The principles also identify criteria for successful carbon projects in coastal wetlands including community engagement, the application of landscapes approaches, and consideration of climate change projections, including anticipated sea level rise.

The second report, ‘Carbon Pools and Multiple Benefits of Mangroves in Central Africa – Assessment for REDD+’ estimates that the carbon benefits from mangroves in Central Africa could be as high as US$66 billion not including benefits from fisheries, coastal protection and other ecosystem services.

The report notes, however, that between 2000 and 2010 an estimated 771 km2 of mangroves were lost or degraded in the region. As such, the report calls for the inclusion of mangroves in national REDD+ programmes, the development of strategies to address mangrove deforestation and forest degradation and the inclusion of stakeholders in future planning related to mangroves. The report also suggests that countries apply the GHG inventory guidelines for wetlands published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

In support of the recommendations contained in the above reports, UNEP released an assessment of satellite-based monitoring for mangroves. The publication, ‘Monitoring the Restoration of Mangrove Ecosystems from Space’ concludes that satellite remote sensing can detect mangrove restoration efforts and therefore can be included as a useful tool in planning and monitoring mangrove management projects. [UNEP Press Release] [Publication: Guiding Principles for Delivering Coastal Wetland Carbon Projects] [Publication: Carbon Pools and Multiple Benefits of Mangroves in Central Africa – Assessment for REDD+] [Publication: Monitoring the Restoration of Mangrove Ecosystems from Space]