What it is
Developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge, this open-access tool models the costs of blue carbon conservation and restoration across nine countries and multiple ecosystem types. The tool maps where blue carbon credits are financially viable against current voluntary market prices (up to $29.30/tCO2e), accounting for variables including land costs, restoration techniques, monitoring requirements, and carbon accumulation rates. Cost estimates range from $90 to $297,000/ha depending on ecosystem and intervention type.
Why we picked this
This tool answers the critical question that investors and policymakers ask first: where does blue carbon make financial sense? By mapping cost-effectiveness geographically, the tool identifies priority sites where restoration investment generates the most carbon per dollar. It also reveals the financing gap: many high-carbon-value sites are not yet viable at current credit prices, pointing to where policy support or blended finance is needed to unlock protection.
Key takeaways
- Mangrove conservation is the most cost-effective blue carbon intervention, with median costs around $290/ha compared to $4,000-$20,000/ha for restoration.
- The tool identifies Southeast Asia and East Africa as regions where blue carbon credits are most likely to achieve financial viability at current market prices.
- At current credit prices of $25-30/tCO2e, approximately 40% of global mangrove area can generate credits that exceed conservation costs, with the percentage rising as credit prices increase.