BLUE CARBON FINANCING OF MANGROVE CONSERVATION IN THE ABIDJAN CONVENTION REGION A FEASIBILITY STUDY NICHOLAS INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY SOLUTIONS 1 Blue Carbon Financing of Mangrove Conservation in the Abidjan Convention Region: A Feasibility Study Editor: Tanya Bryan, GRID-Arendal Co-editor: Abou Bamba, Coordinator, Convention for Cooperation in the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Atlantic Coast of the West, Central and Southern Africa Region (Abidjan Convention) Authors: John Virdin, Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA Tibor Vegh, Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA Connie Y. Kot, Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab (MGEL), Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA Jesse Cleary, Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab (MGEL), Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA Patrick N. Halpin, Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab (MGEL), Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA Christopher Gordon, Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana Marie-Christine Cormier-Salem, IRD (French Institute of Research for Development, UMR PALOC, IRD/MNHN, Université Sorbonne, Paris, France Adelina Mensah, Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana Reviewer: Linwood Pendleton, Marine Ecosystem Services Partnership and Université de Bretagne Occidentale Yannick Beaudoin, Chief Scientist, GRID-Arendal Suggested citation: UNEP 2016. Blue Carbon Financing of Mangrove Conservation in the Abidjan Convention Region: A Feasibility Study. United Nations Environment Programme, Abidjan Convention Secretariat and GRID-Arendal, Nairobi, Abidjan and Arendal. ISBN: 978-82-7701-163-9 Disclaimer The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP or contributory organizations. The designations employed and the presentations do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP or contributory organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, company or area or its authority, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. 2 Contents 5 Foreword 6 Executive Summary and Key Recommendations 8 Acknowledgements 9 1. Introduction: The global importance of mangroves and the opportunity for the Abidjan Convention region 13 2. The global context: an overview of international payment mechanisms for blue carbon 16 3. Blue carbon in West, Central and Southern Africa 16 3.1 Social and cultural values of blue carbon environments in West, Central and Southern Africa 22 3.2 Analysis of blue carbon stocks in West, Central and Southern Africa 35 3.3 Regional policy frameworks for blue carbon in West, Central and Southern Africa 37 4. Key messages and recommendations: a road map to capturing the potential for blue carbon payments in West, Central and Southern Africa 41 References 44 Appendix 1. Summary of financing options for blue carbon conservation 47 Appendix 2. Methodology and detailed results of mangrove conservation economic analysis 3 4 Foreword ‘Blue Carbon’, both as a concept and approach, has evolved With the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals greatly over the past seven years, since first reports highlighting framework and the Paris Climate Agreement, blue carbon Blue Carbon were released in 2009. As a result, the global habitats in the Abidjan Convention region will be a significant community has become increasingly aware of the importance factor with respect to carbon sequestration, maintenance to natural health and social prosperity of certain coastal of ecosystem health and enabling sustainable livelihoods. vegetated ecosystems, such as mangrove forests, sea grass Blue carbon ecosystems and their related services are meadows and salt marshes. These natural ecosystems provide already being included in national reporting mechanisms a variety of clear benefits to local communities and societies related to both the United Nations Framework Convention at large, including (amongst many others) food from fisheries, on Climate Change and the Sustainable Development medicines, construction material and protection from storm Goals. This constitutes a clear indication at the global level surges and coastal erosion. Through the research associated of the emphasis being placed on the role of healthy marine with blue carbon, these habitats have been recognized as ecosystems in both mitigating and adapting to climate a significant natural store of carbon, a critical function with change, and in contributing to sustainable development. respect to climate change mitigation. This has led to an Together UN Environment, the Abidjan Convention and increase in innovative efforts to conserve these habitats and other key partners and stakeholders must transform to ensure the integrity of the carbon they store by avoiding national, regional and global policy efforts into tangible conversion or destruction by incentivizing communities and actions on the ground. The challenges are complex and yet countries through financial mechanisms like REDD+ (Reducing the opportunities are clear. Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). This report builds on the long standing role of both the In the west, central and southern region of coastal Africa, Abidjan Convention and the United Nations Environment the large, intact mangrove areas have attracted particular Programme, along with its community of international attention. From the southern border of Mauritania down partners, to support countries in raising awareness and to the northern border of Angola, extensive mangrove devising policies and concrete actions that acknowledge forests have been providing valuable physical and cultural and integrate the importance of ‘blue carbon’ habitats benefits for generations. These benefits have been difficult like mangroves. The report also highlights persistent to incorporate into conventional decision-making processes, knowledge gaps that hinder the ability of decision makers leading to policies that have resulted habitat loss and to define proper actions that could support achievement increased vulnerability of both the human and natural of Sustainable Development Goals while maintaining systems. The more easily quantified economic benefits of the health and integrity of these precious habitats for converting mangroves to utilitarian applications such as generations to come. It is worth noting that this report deforestation for agriculture, firewood provision or building is very timely for the region as the Abidjan Convention of coastal infrastructure, have in the past overshadowed the is at the final stage of the development of an additional less obvious yet as or more valuable qualitative benefits that protocol on the sustainable management of mangroves are inherent in these natural systems. in its geographic scope. This is a unique experience which needs to be brought to the attention of other region in the Countries of the west, central and southern African coastal world where mangroves ecosystems is an asset for carbon region have recently prioritized mangrove conservation sequestration. through decisions of the Convention for Cooperation in the Protection, Management and Development of the Catalyzing the financial, socio-cultural and natural value of Marine and Coastal Environment of the Atlantic Coast of ‘blue carbon’ systems such as the mangrove forests of west, the west, central and southern Africa Region (the Abidjan central and southern Africa, is an impressive opportunity Convention). The Abidjan Convention has become the key for a region so well-endowed with such habitats. Innovating regional mechanism to enable the coherent, transboundary towards a socially and ecologically sustainable world will coordination of efforts aimed at protecting and sustainably depend on society’s ability to broaden the definitions developing mangrove rich areas. From this regional of value and incorporate already available ‘natural framework, efforts to support national to community level infrastructure’. The countries and communities of West, understanding and action to help recognize, demonstrate Central and Southern Africa can lead the world with such and capture the critical social, economic and environmental innovation, a leadership that will be critical to the success of benefits of healthy mangrove forests. a vital global transition towards the ‘Future We Want’. Erik Solheim UNEP Executive Director 5 Executive Summary and Key Recommendations Introduction and objectives of the report securing international payments for their conservation and Coastal vegetated ecosystems such as mangrove forests, avoided greenhouse gas emissions. seagrass meadows and salt marshes have long benefited coastal communities and fisheries, and in recent years have Blue Carbon in West, Central and Southern been recognized internationally for their significant capacity Africa to sequester and store carbon (i.e. ‘blue carbon’) – at rates The coast of West, Central and Southern Africa contains that surpass those of tropical forests. Yet these ecosystems approximately 14 per cent of the world’s mangrove area, with are being converted rapidly, with current trends projected to the region’s most extensive mangroves located in Nigeria,