An agenda restoring blue carbon ecosystems

BLUE carbon ecosystems — mangroves, sea grasses and tidal marshes — can sequester up to five times more carbon per equivalent area than tropical rainforests. They have proven to be powerhouses with exceptional ability to trap and store carbon from the atmosphere. As a result, the amount of carbon in the air is reduced, mitigating climate change and its impact.

Launched on Feb. 26, the National Blue Carbon Action Partnership (NBCAP) wants to make blue carbon mainstream and put it on the national climate change agenda. It focuses on the protection of people and coastal environments through evidence-based interventions, strategic collaboration among stakeholders and integrated management of resources. It aims to develop and align science-based policies, financing and conservation for blue carbon ecosystems. The initiative seeks to incorporate blue carbon strategies into national and local policies, enhancing coastal resilience and economic opportunities for coastal communities.

The NBCAP is led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and supported by the World Economic Forum's Ocean Action Agenda and the UK government's Blue Planet Fund. The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Philippines, a conservation and mangrove rehabilitation organization, functions as its secretariat.

ZSL Philippines Country Director Edwina Garchitorena explained the importance of the blue carbon ecosystems: "They serve as natural defenses, sources of food and livelihood, and carbon sinks where carbon can be absorbed and stored."

A more pressing reason for blue carbon ecosystems restoration is "about survival," said Yasmin Primavera-Tirol, dean of the College of Fisheries and Marine Science at Aklan State University.

Dixon Gevaña, scientist at the University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños, painted a grim scenario: "By 2060, many parts of the west coast of the Philippines will be submerged by four meters above sea level... "

One NBCAP plan is the development of a Blue Carbon Action road map, with the draft expected by June 2025. This living document will be a collaboration of all stakeholders, supported by scientific research, with identified policy and investment needs. It will be improved and recalibrated over time once implementation begins.

Blue carbon action road map

Scientists, policymakers and community stakeholders will develop high-impact programs that will restore all blue carbon ecosystems. NBCAP Philippines OIC Germaine De Ruña said NBCAP will also coordinate worldwide efforts to support developments in science, policy and funding for scaling the latter. Increasing partnerships, funding and legislative support will ensure their effective protection and sustainable management.

DENR Undersecretary for Finance, Information Systems and Climate Change Annaliza Rebuelta-Teh discussed the government's carbon-related climate change mitigation initiatives: the development of a carbon policy in the Philippines; pursuing the potential of carbon markets; mobilizing climate finance; mainstreaming the Blue Economy Framework at the national level; development of the Blue Carbon Certification program; and the establishment of the Ocean Environment Taskforce, among others.

"Private-sector participation is crucial in mobilizing climate finance," Teh pointed out. She cited regulatory measures that promote private sector engagement, such as Republic Act (RA) 10771, or the Green Jobs Act, RA 11534, or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act, and BSP regulations that govern frameworks for sustainable finance, environmental and social risk management, and integrating sustainability principles into banks' investment activities.

The launch spotlighted regional success stories in blue carbon ecosystem restoration initiatives, which have helped provide local communities with storm protection, food security and sustainable livelihoods.

Julie Ann Bedrio, provincial environment management officer of the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, credited her province's success in mangrove restoration to strong government support. Negros Occidental has been identified by the DENR's National Adaptation Plan as one of the 18 provinces with high exposure to climate change.

According to Bedrio, Negros Occidental became the first Philippine province to establish a network of Coastal Greenbelt Zones. Currently, 24 coastal LGUs and communities participate in mangrove conservation while two provincial mangrove nurseries have been established to ensure a steady supply of native mangrove seedlings supporting long-term reforestation efforts.

"Mangrove restoration efforts have enhanced natural coastal defenses, reducing storm surges and flooding," Bedrio said. "Increase in fish stocks and marine biodiversity has benefited local fishers and food security. Coastal communities engage in sustainable livelihoods such as ecotourism and community-based conservation initiatives."

While challenges remain, ZSL Philippines said that local government and community-led restoration efforts are making a significant impact. Palawan, Surigao and Tawi-Tawi now hold the highest blue carbon stocks in the country, with the Verde Island Passage contributing around 10 percent of the national total. With the NBCAP road map, the Philippines has a real chance to take a more effective approach toward blue carbon ecosystem conservation and rehabilitation.