Blue Carbon: A new concept for reducing the impacts of climate change by conserving coastal ecosystems in the Coral Triangle

Abstract

This paper is aimed at politicians, governments, businesses and organisations that influence the development of policies and strategies in climate change mitigation and adaptation, poverty alleviation, natural resource use, biodiversity conservation and economics. Its aim is to stimulate discussion and debate on how to promote and utilise healthy coastal ecosystems and the valuable benefits they provide to support a sustainable and more climate resilient future for communities within the Coral Triangle. Coastal ecosystems in the Coral Triangle support key industries such as commercial fishing and tourism. Well over 120 million people rely directly on its coastal resources for their food and livelihoods. In fact the region is the world’s largest tuna producer.