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Rebuilding Coastal Carbon Sinks

Evidence-based strategies for blue carbon ecosystem restoration

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From Degraded to Regenerated

Blue carbon restoration offers 10-40× return on investment through carbon credits, fisheries recovery, and coastal protection—if done correctly.

Successful restoration requires understanding site-specific hydrology, selecting appropriate methods, and long-term monitoring. Failures often result from poor site selection (wrong elevation, salinity) or inappropriate techniques (planting when natural regeneration would work better).

🎯 Five Principles for Success

  1. 1.Fix the problem first: Address root causes (pollution, drainage, barriers) before planting.
  2. 2.Match hydrology: Ensure correct tidal flooding frequency, duration, and salinity.
  3. 3.Favor natural regeneration: Cheaper and often more successful than active planting if conditions are right.
  4. 4.Engage communities: Local stakeholders must benefit economically for long-term sustainability.
  5. 5.Monitor adaptively: Track survival rates, adjust techniques, and verify carbon outcomes.

Interactive Restoration Project Builder

Design your restoration project by selecting ecosystem, method, and scale

Natural Regeneration

Remove barriers, restore hydrology, let nature regenerate

Cost:$500/ha
Success Rate:70%
Maturity:15 years
Pros:
  • +Lowest cost
  • +High genetic diversity
  • +Self-sustaining
Cons:
  • −Slower initial growth
  • −Requires seed source nearby
  • −Less predictable

Active Planting

Nursery-grown seedlings planted in grid patterns

Cost:$2500/ha
Success Rate:60%
Maturity:12 years

Hybrid Approach

Strategic planting + natural regeneration zones

Cost:$1500/ha
Success Rate:85%
Maturity:10 years
100 ha
Small (10 ha)Medium (500 ha)Large (1,000 ha)

Your Restoration Project Summary

Total Investment
$50K
Annual Carbon Removal
650 t
Lifetime CO₂ (20yr)
6825 t
Cost per Ton CO₂
$7
Additional Co-Benefits
🐟Nursery habitat for 250 kg fish/yr
🌊Storm surge reduction: 30 m³ wave energy absorbed
💼Employment: 80 jobs created
💧Water filtration: 100 ha of improved water quality

✅ Proven Success Stories

Mikoko Pamoja, Kenya: 117 ha mangrove restoration generating carbon credits ($10/ton) that fund community projects. 10-year survival rate: 88%.

Virginia Coast Reserve, USA: 200+ ha seagrass restoration using seeds. Now self-sustaining with natural expansion into adjacent areas.

Don Edwards Refuge, California: Salt marsh restoration via levee breaching. Tidal flow restored, natural colonization within 3 years, carbon sequestration verified via cores.