{"id":388760,"date":"2025-11-18T14:36:52","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T13:36:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/?p=388760"},"modified":"2026-01-06T16:38:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T15:38:53","slug":"blue-carbon-credits-an-innovative-way-to-finance-mangrove-restoration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/story\/blue-carbon-credits-an-innovative-way-to-finance-mangrove-restoration\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue carbon credits: an innovative way to finance mangrove restoration"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mangrove forests are crucial ecosystems that protect vulnerable coasts, provide local communities with livelihood resources, and harbour rich biodiversity. Yet a global assessment of the IUCN<\/a> found that more than half of the world\u2019s mangrove ecosystems are currently at risk of collapsing. This loss is especially concerning because mangroves capture and store large amounts of carbon. There is therefore growing interest in protecting and restoring these vital ecosystems, which can be partly funded through carbon credits. Blue carbon programmes can support the restoration and protection of mangrove habitats, contribute to climate change mitigation, and generate financial resources to scale-up these nature-based solutions.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Header photo: Mangrove tree \u00a9 Daniel Aboki  <\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Why protecting mangrove forests matters <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Mangroves are broad-leaved trees that thrive in salty water. Their submerged roots create a protected refuge for countless and often unique and rare animal and plant species, while the canopy provides nesting and foraging opportunities for birds and insects. More than 1,500 species depend on mangrove forests for food or as breeding grounds, and 15% of these species are threatened with extinction. [1]<\/sup><\/a>UNEP. (2023). Decades of mangrove forest change: what does it mean for nature, people and the climate?<\/a> <\/span><\/span>