Nature-based
Mangrove forestation
Mangrove forestation, including ARR, is the process of growing mangrove tree species to establish forest cover. Located within the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical coastlines, mangroves are highly productive forests capable of stocking large amounts of carbon in their biomass and soils. However, intertidal ecology also necessitates specific forestation considerations, such as potential hydrological restoration of the site. Given the unique ecology of mangroves, we provide specific guidance for mangrove forestation here.
Nature-based
Mangrove forestation
Mangrove forestation, including ARR, is the process of growing mangrove tree species to establish forest cover. Located within the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical coastlines, mangroves are highly productive forests capable of stocking large amounts of carbon in their biomass and soils. However, intertidal ecology also necessitates specific forestation considerations, such as potential hydrological restoration of the site. Given the unique ecology of mangroves, we provide specific guidance for mangrove forestation here.
Nature-based
Mangrove forestation
Mangrove forestation, including ARR, is the process of growing mangrove tree species to establish forest cover. Located within the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical coastlines, mangroves are highly productive forests capable of stocking large amounts of carbon in their biomass and soils. However, intertidal ecology also necessitates specific forestation considerations, such as potential hydrological restoration of the site. Given the unique ecology of mangroves, we provide specific guidance for mangrove forestation here.
Mangrove forestation
Social harms, benefits, and environmental justice
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Prioritize mangrove forestation in areas that protect communities from storm surge, prevent coastal erosion, and support fish nursery habitat.
Implement projects on land with clear or secure land tenure to reduce the risk of tenure disputes and disenfranchisement of local communities. Mangroves commonly exist on public land with customary tenure, which raises these risks.
Respect local or traditional approaches to land ownership and management.
Promote locally relevant gender integration, such as explicitly incorporating women into project activities, as well as incorporating low-income and other marginalized communities.
Use equitable approaches to addressing community-based barriers to natural regeneration or reforestation.
Include project activities that provide alternative livelihoods to replace foregone income or nutrition if mangrove forestation reduces aquaculture production, timber harvesting, or access to other forest resources.
Provide a fair and transparent mechanism for land owners to opt out of lease agreements when they no longer wish to participate.
Codevelop benefit-sharing arrangements with local communities, including negotiating terms before carbon credits are sold, transparently disclosing what portion of revenues the communities will receive, and indicating how funds are apportioned.
Project developers should
Proactively plan for the job security and economic stability of workers to mitigate the short duration of many forestation activities (e.g., through longer-term employment across multiple parcels in a region).
Actively promote long-term sustainable livelihoods and economic opportunities for local communities (e.g., support local workforce development programs and initiatives).
Use cost-effective forestation techniques to support natural regeneration and reforestation.
Social harms, benefits, and environmental justice
Social harms, benefits, and environmental justice
Mangrove forestation
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Prioritize mangrove forestation in areas that protect communities from storm surge, prevent coastal erosion, and support fish nursery habitat.
Implement projects on land with clear or secure land tenure to reduce the risk of tenure disputes and disenfranchisement of local communities. Mangroves commonly exist on public land with customary tenure, which raises these risks.
Respect local or traditional approaches to land ownership and management.
Promote locally relevant gender integration, such as explicitly incorporating women into project activities, as well as incorporating low-income and other marginalized communities.
Use equitable approaches to addressing community-based barriers to natural regeneration or reforestation.
Include project activities that provide alternative livelihoods to replace foregone income or nutrition if mangrove forestation reduces aquaculture production, timber harvesting, or access to other forest resources.
Provide a fair and transparent mechanism for land owners to opt out of lease agreements when they no longer wish to participate.
Codevelop benefit-sharing arrangements with local communities, including negotiating terms before carbon credits are sold, transparently disclosing what portion of revenues the communities will receive, and indicating how funds are apportioned.
Project developers should
Proactively plan for the job security and economic stability of workers to mitigate the short duration of many forestation activities (e.g., through longer-term employment across multiple parcels in a region).
Actively promote long-term sustainable livelihoods and economic opportunities for local communities (e.g., support local workforce development programs and initiatives).
Use cost-effective forestation techniques to support natural regeneration and reforestation.
Social harms, benefits, and environmental justice
Mangrove forestation
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Prioritize mangrove forestation in areas that protect communities from storm surge, prevent coastal erosion, and support fish nursery habitat.
Implement projects on land with clear or secure land tenure to reduce the risk of tenure disputes and disenfranchisement of local communities. Mangroves commonly exist on public land with customary tenure, which raises these risks.
Respect local or traditional approaches to land ownership and management.
Promote locally relevant gender integration, such as explicitly incorporating women into project activities, as well as incorporating low-income and other marginalized communities.
Use equitable approaches to addressing community-based barriers to natural regeneration or reforestation.
Include project activities that provide alternative livelihoods to replace foregone income or nutrition if mangrove forestation reduces aquaculture production, timber harvesting, or access to other forest resources.
Provide a fair and transparent mechanism for land owners to opt out of lease agreements when they no longer wish to participate.
Codevelop benefit-sharing arrangements with local communities, including negotiating terms before carbon credits are sold, transparently disclosing what portion of revenues the communities will receive, and indicating how funds are apportioned.
Project developers should
Proactively plan for the job security and economic stability of workers to mitigate the short duration of many forestation activities (e.g., through longer-term employment across multiple parcels in a region).
Actively promote long-term sustainable livelihoods and economic opportunities for local communities (e.g., support local workforce development programs and initiatives).
Use cost-effective forestation techniques to support natural regeneration and reforestation.
Social harms, benefits, and environmental justice
Mangrove forestation
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Prioritize mangrove forestation in areas that protect communities from storm surge, prevent coastal erosion, and support fish nursery habitat.
Implement projects on land with clear or secure land tenure to reduce the risk of tenure disputes and disenfranchisement of local communities. Mangroves commonly exist on public land with customary tenure, which raises these risks.
Respect local or traditional approaches to land ownership and management.
Promote locally relevant gender integration, such as explicitly incorporating women into project activities, as well as incorporating low-income and other marginalized communities.
Use equitable approaches to addressing community-based barriers to natural regeneration or reforestation.
Include project activities that provide alternative livelihoods to replace foregone income or nutrition if mangrove forestation reduces aquaculture production, timber harvesting, or access to other forest resources.
Provide a fair and transparent mechanism for land owners to opt out of lease agreements when they no longer wish to participate.
Codevelop benefit-sharing arrangements with local communities, including negotiating terms before carbon credits are sold, transparently disclosing what portion of revenues the communities will receive, and indicating how funds are apportioned.
Project developers should
Proactively plan for the job security and economic stability of workers to mitigate the short duration of many forestation activities (e.g., through longer-term employment across multiple parcels in a region).
Actively promote long-term sustainable livelihoods and economic opportunities for local communities (e.g., support local workforce development programs and initiatives).
Use cost-effective forestation techniques to support natural regeneration and reforestation.
Mangrove forestation
Environmental harms and benefits
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Avoid the destruction of other coastal ecosystems, such as seagrass meadows and natural tidal mudflats, which are globally important and threatened ecosystems.
Avoid damaging, destroying, or harvesting any existing mangroves during site preparation activities.
Prioritize forestation of biodiverse mangroves by supporting natural regeneration processes or planting a variety of native species that are resilient to current and future environmental conditions. Avoid planting monocultures of generalist species, such as Rhizophora spp.
Consider the impacts on biodiversity (both benefits and costs) when selecting species for mangrove forestation.
Project developers should
Use cost-effective mangrove forestation techniques that harness a site’s natural recovery potential such as hydrological restoration, propagule planting, or assisted natural regeneration.
Environmental harms and benefits
Environmental harms and benefits
Mangrove forestation
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Avoid the destruction of other coastal ecosystems, such as seagrass meadows and natural tidal mudflats, which are globally important and threatened ecosystems.
Avoid damaging, destroying, or harvesting any existing mangroves during site preparation activities.
Prioritize forestation of biodiverse mangroves by supporting natural regeneration processes or planting a variety of native species that are resilient to current and future environmental conditions. Avoid planting monocultures of generalist species, such as Rhizophora spp.
Consider the impacts on biodiversity (both benefits and costs) when selecting species for mangrove forestation.
Project developers should
Use cost-effective mangrove forestation techniques that harness a site’s natural recovery potential such as hydrological restoration, propagule planting, or assisted natural regeneration.
Environmental harms and benefits
Mangrove forestation
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Avoid the destruction of other coastal ecosystems, such as seagrass meadows and natural tidal mudflats, which are globally important and threatened ecosystems.
Avoid damaging, destroying, or harvesting any existing mangroves during site preparation activities.
Prioritize forestation of biodiverse mangroves by supporting natural regeneration processes or planting a variety of native species that are resilient to current and future environmental conditions. Avoid planting monocultures of generalist species, such as Rhizophora spp.
Consider the impacts on biodiversity (both benefits and costs) when selecting species for mangrove forestation.
Project developers should
Use cost-effective mangrove forestation techniques that harness a site’s natural recovery potential such as hydrological restoration, propagule planting, or assisted natural regeneration.
Environmental harms and benefits
Mangrove forestation
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Avoid the destruction of other coastal ecosystems, such as seagrass meadows and natural tidal mudflats, which are globally important and threatened ecosystems.
Avoid damaging, destroying, or harvesting any existing mangroves during site preparation activities.
Prioritize forestation of biodiverse mangroves by supporting natural regeneration processes or planting a variety of native species that are resilient to current and future environmental conditions. Avoid planting monocultures of generalist species, such as Rhizophora spp.
Consider the impacts on biodiversity (both benefits and costs) when selecting species for mangrove forestation.
Project developers should
Use cost-effective mangrove forestation techniques that harness a site’s natural recovery potential such as hydrological restoration, propagule planting, or assisted natural regeneration.
Mangrove forestation
Additionality and baselines
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Identify the human and/or environmental drivers of mangrove loss or degradation, and ensure that the proposed interventions mitigate the impacts of these drivers.
Ensure pre-project mangroves are excluded from crediting but are still monitored throughout the project crediting period.
Determine the natural regeneration baseline using the best available science to predict natural seedling establishment and forest growth in the absence of tree planting.
Identify constraints to natural recruitment/regeneration and either mitigate these constraints or provide evidence that site conditions are appropriate for planting.
Separate between allochthonous and autochthonous sources of soil carbon, if crediting soil carbon gains.
Establish control plots to directly measure natural regeneration over the course of the project.
If using dynamic baselines, use remote sensing protocols that ensure selection of control plots that are adequately matched to project plots and accurate measurement of biomass accrual in control plots.
Project developers should
Use historical time series of remotely sensed data to show that natural recovery of mangrove forest is very unlikely to occur when claiming a negligible natural regeneration baseline.
Use a dynamic baseline with statistically matched controls if project conditions allow, even if not required by the methodology, to ensure that the project is not crediting carbon removals due to natural regrowth.
Additionality and baselines
Additionality and baselines
Mangrove forestation
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Identify the human and/or environmental drivers of mangrove loss or degradation, and ensure that the proposed interventions mitigate the impacts of these drivers.
Ensure pre-project mangroves are excluded from crediting but are still monitored throughout the project crediting period.
Determine the natural regeneration baseline using the best available science to predict natural seedling establishment and forest growth in the absence of tree planting.
Identify constraints to natural recruitment/regeneration and either mitigate these constraints or provide evidence that site conditions are appropriate for planting.
Separate between allochthonous and autochthonous sources of soil carbon, if crediting soil carbon gains.
Establish control plots to directly measure natural regeneration over the course of the project.
If using dynamic baselines, use remote sensing protocols that ensure selection of control plots that are adequately matched to project plots and accurate measurement of biomass accrual in control plots.
Project developers should
Use historical time series of remotely sensed data to show that natural recovery of mangrove forest is very unlikely to occur when claiming a negligible natural regeneration baseline.
Use a dynamic baseline with statistically matched controls if project conditions allow, even if not required by the methodology, to ensure that the project is not crediting carbon removals due to natural regrowth.
Additionality and baselines
Mangrove forestation
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Identify the human and/or environmental drivers of mangrove loss or degradation, and ensure that the proposed interventions mitigate the impacts of these drivers.
Ensure pre-project mangroves are excluded from crediting but are still monitored throughout the project crediting period.
Determine the natural regeneration baseline using the best available science to predict natural seedling establishment and forest growth in the absence of tree planting.
Identify constraints to natural recruitment/regeneration and either mitigate these constraints or provide evidence that site conditions are appropriate for planting.
Separate between allochthonous and autochthonous sources of soil carbon, if crediting soil carbon gains.
Establish control plots to directly measure natural regeneration over the course of the project.
If using dynamic baselines, use remote sensing protocols that ensure selection of control plots that are adequately matched to project plots and accurate measurement of biomass accrual in control plots.
Project developers should
Use historical time series of remotely sensed data to show that natural recovery of mangrove forest is very unlikely to occur when claiming a negligible natural regeneration baseline.
Use a dynamic baseline with statistically matched controls if project conditions allow, even if not required by the methodology, to ensure that the project is not crediting carbon removals due to natural regrowth.
Additionality and baselines
Mangrove forestation
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Identify the human and/or environmental drivers of mangrove loss or degradation, and ensure that the proposed interventions mitigate the impacts of these drivers.
Ensure pre-project mangroves are excluded from crediting but are still monitored throughout the project crediting period.
Determine the natural regeneration baseline using the best available science to predict natural seedling establishment and forest growth in the absence of tree planting.
Identify constraints to natural recruitment/regeneration and either mitigate these constraints or provide evidence that site conditions are appropriate for planting.
Separate between allochthonous and autochthonous sources of soil carbon, if crediting soil carbon gains.
Establish control plots to directly measure natural regeneration over the course of the project.
If using dynamic baselines, use remote sensing protocols that ensure selection of control plots that are adequately matched to project plots and accurate measurement of biomass accrual in control plots.
Project developers should
Use historical time series of remotely sensed data to show that natural recovery of mangrove forest is very unlikely to occur when claiming a negligible natural regeneration baseline.
Use a dynamic baseline with statistically matched controls if project conditions allow, even if not required by the methodology, to ensure that the project is not crediting carbon removals due to natural regrowth.
Mangrove forestation
Measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Prioritize mangrove forestation in areas that protect communities from storm surge, prevent coastal erosion, and support fish nursery habitat.
Implement projects on land with clear or secure land tenure to reduce the risk of tenure disputes and disenfranchisement of local communities. Mangroves commonly exist on public land with customary tenure, which raises these risks.
Respect local or traditional approaches to land ownership and management.
Promote locally relevant gender integration, such as explicitly incorporating women into project activities, as well as incorporating low-income and other marginalized communities.
Use equitable approaches to addressing community-based barriers to natural regeneration or reforestation.
Include project activities that provide alternative livelihoods to replace foregone income or nutrition if mangrove forestation reduces aquaculture production, timber harvesting, or access to other forest resources.
Provide a fair and transparent mechanism for land owners to opt out of lease agreements when they no longer wish to participate.
Codevelop benefit-sharing arrangements with local communities, including negotiating terms before carbon credits are sold, transparently disclosing what portion of revenues the communities will receive, and indicating how funds are apportioned.
Project developers should
Proactively plan for the job security and economic stability of workers to mitigate the short duration of many forestation activities (e.g., through longer-term employment across multiple parcels in a region).
Actively promote long-term sustainable livelihoods and economic opportunities for local communities (e.g., support local workforce development programs and initiatives).
Use cost-effective forestation techniques to support natural regeneration and reforestation.
Measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification
Measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification
Mangrove forestation
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Justify the models and assumptions used to quantify expected carbon accumulation in the above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass, and organic soil pools. Include key determinants of carbon accumulation such as the environmental setting of forestation areas (e.g., fringe versus deltaic settings), species-specific allometries, and survival rates of seedlings.
Use statistical sampling for quantifying above-ground carbon, including stratifying by site hydrogeomorphology.
Use data from in situ sampling or conservative root:shoot ratios (i.e., use smaller ratios to mitigate uncertainty) to quantify changes in below-ground carbon, where this pool is included.
Measure and monitor changes in soil carbon when claiming removals in soils, using the criteria listed in the Soil carbon section and stratifying by site hydrogeomorphology (i.e., project developers must rely on empirical site-level data or models, not default soil carbon factors).
Implement monitoring plans that measure changes in carbon stocks using some or all these approaches: mapping, remote sensing, long-term field plot measurements, relative sediment elevation table methods, and/or field-validated modeling.
Project developers should
Compare and justify expected carbon accumulation numbers against benchmark figures, such as standing carbon stocks in proximal mature mangrove stands, global maps of mangrove carbon, or meta-analyses of carbon accumulation in planted mangroves from scientific literature.
Employ validated and regionally calibrated methods and/or use ground inventories to ensure the accuracy of remotely sensed measurements of above-ground biomass changes.
Implement projects on lands where the net impact of forestation or agroforestry on soil carbon is likely to be net positive, unless soil carbon is directly measured.
Quantify any GHG fluxes associated with site preparation including removal of existing vegetation. If applicable, explain why any GHG fluxes are expected to be insignificant.
Quantify any indirect climate impacts (e.g., methane emissions potentially resulting from hydrologic restoration or soil disturbance).
Measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification
Mangrove forestation
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Justify the models and assumptions used to quantify expected carbon accumulation in the above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass, and organic soil pools. Include key determinants of carbon accumulation such as the environmental setting of forestation areas (e.g., fringe versus deltaic settings), species-specific allometries, and survival rates of seedlings.
Use statistical sampling for quantifying above-ground carbon, including stratifying by site hydrogeomorphology.
Use data from in situ sampling or conservative root:shoot ratios (i.e., use smaller ratios to mitigate uncertainty) to quantify changes in below-ground carbon, where this pool is included.
Measure and monitor changes in soil carbon when claiming removals in soils, using the criteria listed in the Soil carbon section and stratifying by site hydrogeomorphology (i.e., project developers must rely on empirical site-level data or models, not default soil carbon factors).
Implement monitoring plans that measure changes in carbon stocks using some or all these approaches: mapping, remote sensing, long-term field plot measurements, relative sediment elevation table methods, and/or field-validated modeling.
Project developers should
Compare and justify expected carbon accumulation numbers against benchmark figures, such as standing carbon stocks in proximal mature mangrove stands, global maps of mangrove carbon, or meta-analyses of carbon accumulation in planted mangroves from scientific literature.
Employ validated and regionally calibrated methods and/or use ground inventories to ensure the accuracy of remotely sensed measurements of above-ground biomass changes.
Implement projects on lands where the net impact of forestation or agroforestry on soil carbon is likely to be net positive, unless soil carbon is directly measured.
Quantify any GHG fluxes associated with site preparation including removal of existing vegetation. If applicable, explain why any GHG fluxes are expected to be insignificant.
Quantify any indirect climate impacts (e.g., methane emissions potentially resulting from hydrologic restoration or soil disturbance).
Measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification
Mangrove forestation
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Justify the models and assumptions used to quantify expected carbon accumulation in the above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass, and organic soil pools. Include key determinants of carbon accumulation such as the environmental setting of forestation areas (e.g., fringe versus deltaic settings), species-specific allometries, and survival rates of seedlings.
Use statistical sampling for quantifying above-ground carbon, including stratifying by site hydrogeomorphology.
Use data from in situ sampling or conservative root:shoot ratios (i.e., use smaller ratios to mitigate uncertainty) to quantify changes in below-ground carbon, where this pool is included.
Measure and monitor changes in soil carbon when claiming removals in soils, using the criteria listed in the Soil carbon section and stratifying by site hydrogeomorphology (i.e., project developers must rely on empirical site-level data or models, not default soil carbon factors).
Implement monitoring plans that measure changes in carbon stocks using some or all these approaches: mapping, remote sensing, long-term field plot measurements, relative sediment elevation table methods, and/or field-validated modeling.
Project developers should
Compare and justify expected carbon accumulation numbers against benchmark figures, such as standing carbon stocks in proximal mature mangrove stands, global maps of mangrove carbon, or meta-analyses of carbon accumulation in planted mangroves from scientific literature.
Employ validated and regionally calibrated methods and/or use ground inventories to ensure the accuracy of remotely sensed measurements of above-ground biomass changes.
Implement projects on lands where the net impact of forestation or agroforestry on soil carbon is likely to be net positive, unless soil carbon is directly measured.
Quantify any GHG fluxes associated with site preparation including removal of existing vegetation. If applicable, explain why any GHG fluxes are expected to be insignificant.
Quantify any indirect climate impacts (e.g., methane emissions potentially resulting from hydrologic restoration or soil disturbance).
Mangrove forestation
Durability
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Plant mangroves in appropriate locations with site-appropriate species where mangroves are likely to persist and flourish. For example, mudflats are often considered for mangrove planting but are unsuitable, as vegetation growth is limited in these areas.
Integrate projections and scientific models of sea level rise and other natural dynamics over multiple timescales when choosing sites for forestation and species stratification. These models should be used to estimate durability horizons and communicate uncertainties.
Ensure proper site preparation and assessment, including reestablishing hydrological connectivity where necessary and testing for appropriate soil quality (e.g., redox potential, sulfides/sulfates, etc.).
Implement active and ongoing measures (i.e., adaptive management plans) to mitigate identified risks to the durability of carbon held in mangrove forests (e.g., direct and indirect impacts from sea level rise, storm surge, or watershed management).
Determine the hydrological status of the site and mitigate any impacts to site hydrology that might prevent successful mangrove forestation.
Identify and mitigate human drivers of mangrove loss throughout the project life.
Implement seedling planting and monitoring plans to maximize the probability of seedling survival during the critical three- to five-year establishment phase, including physical infrastructure and human capacity considerations.
Monitor and document seedling survival at multiple time points (e.g., at year one, three, and five), as well as any additional planting to replace dead seedlings in subsequent years.
Project developers should
Identify potential policy conflicts for long-term management of forests due to unclear demarcations of intertidal zones and overlapping jurisdictions of national or local governments (e.g., Ministry of Marine Resources and Ministry of Forests).
When initiating projects that involve harvesting, incorporate harvested biomass into long-lived wood products, either traditional (e.g., lumber or polewood) or emerging (e.g., biochar).
Plant species adapted to future conditions and use planting patterns that foster resistance to disturbance, including plans to mitigate coastal squeeze (i.e., the phenomenon by which mangroves cannot migrate toward land in response to sea level rise due to impermeable surfaces such as paved urban areas).
Incorporate appropriate flood management techniques to support early planting, such as restoring hydrological connectivity and only planting within a species’ known tolerance for tidal inundation.
Leverage existing legal or policy instruments (e.g., conservation easements, protected area designation) to secure the durability of the carbon stocks beyond the crediting period.
Durability
Durability
Mangrove forestation
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Plant mangroves in appropriate locations with site-appropriate species where mangroves are likely to persist and flourish. For example, mudflats are often considered for mangrove planting but are unsuitable, as vegetation growth is limited in these areas.
Integrate projections and scientific models of sea level rise and other natural dynamics over multiple timescales when choosing sites for forestation and species stratification. These models should be used to estimate durability horizons and communicate uncertainties.
Ensure proper site preparation and assessment, including reestablishing hydrological connectivity where necessary and testing for appropriate soil quality (e.g., redox potential, sulfides/sulfates, etc.).
Implement active and ongoing measures (i.e., adaptive management plans) to mitigate identified risks to the durability of carbon held in mangrove forests (e.g., direct and indirect impacts from sea level rise, storm surge, or watershed management).
Determine the hydrological status of the site and mitigate any impacts to site hydrology that might prevent successful mangrove forestation.
Identify and mitigate human drivers of mangrove loss throughout the project life.
Implement seedling planting and monitoring plans to maximize the probability of seedling survival during the critical three- to five-year establishment phase, including physical infrastructure and human capacity considerations.
Monitor and document seedling survival at multiple time points (e.g., at year one, three, and five), as well as any additional planting to replace dead seedlings in subsequent years.
Project developers should
Identify potential policy conflicts for long-term management of forests due to unclear demarcations of intertidal zones and overlapping jurisdictions of national or local governments (e.g., Ministry of Marine Resources and Ministry of Forests).
When initiating projects that involve harvesting, incorporate harvested biomass into long-lived wood products, either traditional (e.g., lumber or polewood) or emerging (e.g., biochar).
Plant species adapted to future conditions and use planting patterns that foster resistance to disturbance, including plans to mitigate coastal squeeze (i.e., the phenomenon by which mangroves cannot migrate toward land in response to sea level rise due to impermeable surfaces such as paved urban areas).
Incorporate appropriate flood management techniques to support early planting, such as restoring hydrological connectivity and only planting within a species’ known tolerance for tidal inundation.
Leverage existing legal or policy instruments (e.g., conservation easements, protected area designation) to secure the durability of the carbon stocks beyond the crediting period.
Durability
Mangrove forestation
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Plant mangroves in appropriate locations with site-appropriate species where mangroves are likely to persist and flourish. For example, mudflats are often considered for mangrove planting but are unsuitable, as vegetation growth is limited in these areas.
Integrate projections and scientific models of sea level rise and other natural dynamics over multiple timescales when choosing sites for forestation and species stratification. These models should be used to estimate durability horizons and communicate uncertainties.
Ensure proper site preparation and assessment, including reestablishing hydrological connectivity where necessary and testing for appropriate soil quality (e.g., redox potential, sulfides/sulfates, etc.).
Implement active and ongoing measures (i.e., adaptive management plans) to mitigate identified risks to the durability of carbon held in mangrove forests (e.g., direct and indirect impacts from sea level rise, storm surge, or watershed management).
Determine the hydrological status of the site and mitigate any impacts to site hydrology that might prevent successful mangrove forestation.
Identify and mitigate human drivers of mangrove loss throughout the project life.
Implement seedling planting and monitoring plans to maximize the probability of seedling survival during the critical three- to five-year establishment phase, including physical infrastructure and human capacity considerations.
Monitor and document seedling survival at multiple time points (e.g., at year one, three, and five), as well as any additional planting to replace dead seedlings in subsequent years.
Project developers should
Identify potential policy conflicts for long-term management of forests due to unclear demarcations of intertidal zones and overlapping jurisdictions of national or local governments (e.g., Ministry of Marine Resources and Ministry of Forests).
When initiating projects that involve harvesting, incorporate harvested biomass into long-lived wood products, either traditional (e.g., lumber or polewood) or emerging (e.g., biochar).
Plant species adapted to future conditions and use planting patterns that foster resistance to disturbance, including plans to mitigate coastal squeeze (i.e., the phenomenon by which mangroves cannot migrate toward land in response to sea level rise due to impermeable surfaces such as paved urban areas).
Incorporate appropriate flood management techniques to support early planting, such as restoring hydrological connectivity and only planting within a species’ known tolerance for tidal inundation.
Leverage existing legal or policy instruments (e.g., conservation easements, protected area designation) to secure the durability of the carbon stocks beyond the crediting period.
Durability
Mangrove forestation
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
Plant mangroves in appropriate locations with site-appropriate species where mangroves are likely to persist and flourish. For example, mudflats are often considered for mangrove planting but are unsuitable, as vegetation growth is limited in these areas.
Integrate projections and scientific models of sea level rise and other natural dynamics over multiple timescales when choosing sites for forestation and species stratification. These models should be used to estimate durability horizons and communicate uncertainties.
Ensure proper site preparation and assessment, including reestablishing hydrological connectivity where necessary and testing for appropriate soil quality (e.g., redox potential, sulfides/sulfates, etc.).
Implement active and ongoing measures (i.e., adaptive management plans) to mitigate identified risks to the durability of carbon held in mangrove forests (e.g., direct and indirect impacts from sea level rise, storm surge, or watershed management).
Determine the hydrological status of the site and mitigate any impacts to site hydrology that might prevent successful mangrove forestation.
Identify and mitigate human drivers of mangrove loss throughout the project life.
Implement seedling planting and monitoring plans to maximize the probability of seedling survival during the critical three- to five-year establishment phase, including physical infrastructure and human capacity considerations.
Monitor and document seedling survival at multiple time points (e.g., at year one, three, and five), as well as any additional planting to replace dead seedlings in subsequent years.
Project developers should
Identify potential policy conflicts for long-term management of forests due to unclear demarcations of intertidal zones and overlapping jurisdictions of national or local governments (e.g., Ministry of Marine Resources and Ministry of Forests).
When initiating projects that involve harvesting, incorporate harvested biomass into long-lived wood products, either traditional (e.g., lumber or polewood) or emerging (e.g., biochar).
Plant species adapted to future conditions and use planting patterns that foster resistance to disturbance, including plans to mitigate coastal squeeze (i.e., the phenomenon by which mangroves cannot migrate toward land in response to sea level rise due to impermeable surfaces such as paved urban areas).
Incorporate appropriate flood management techniques to support early planting, such as restoring hydrological connectivity and only planting within a species’ known tolerance for tidal inundation.
Leverage existing legal or policy instruments (e.g., conservation easements, protected area designation) to secure the durability of the carbon stocks beyond the crediting period.
Mangrove forestation
Leakage
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
When claiming low leakage rates, provide evidence that project lands have low economic value, or that project activities do not significantly displace existing land uses.
Project developers should
Demonstrate low leakage rates by showing minimal agriculture or aquaculture use over the preceding decade and minimal expected future land-use change, including a low likelihood of future agriculture or aquaculture land use.
Use remotely sensed land-use data to determine leakage estimates, especially when coupled with models of land-use change.
Document positive leakage when project activities are expected to lead to additional carbon benefits beyond the project boundaries, and provide supporting evidence even if the methodology does not require it.
Leakage
Leakage
Mangrove forestation
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
When claiming low leakage rates, provide evidence that project lands have low economic value, or that project activities do not significantly displace existing land uses.
Project developers should
Demonstrate low leakage rates by showing minimal agriculture or aquaculture use over the preceding decade and minimal expected future land-use change, including a low likelihood of future agriculture or aquaculture land use.
Use remotely sensed land-use data to determine leakage estimates, especially when coupled with models of land-use change.
Document positive leakage when project activities are expected to lead to additional carbon benefits beyond the project boundaries, and provide supporting evidence even if the methodology does not require it.
Leakage
Mangrove forestation
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
When claiming low leakage rates, provide evidence that project lands have low economic value, or that project activities do not significantly displace existing land uses.
Project developers should
Demonstrate low leakage rates by showing minimal agriculture or aquaculture use over the preceding decade and minimal expected future land-use change, including a low likelihood of future agriculture or aquaculture land use.
Use remotely sensed land-use data to determine leakage estimates, especially when coupled with models of land-use change.
Document positive leakage when project activities are expected to lead to additional carbon benefits beyond the project boundaries, and provide supporting evidence even if the methodology does not require it.
Leakage
Mangrove forestation
These criteria build on and extend the considerations included under the essential principles for high-quality CDR.
Project developers must
When claiming low leakage rates, provide evidence that project lands have low economic value, or that project activities do not significantly displace existing land uses.
Project developers should
Demonstrate low leakage rates by showing minimal agriculture or aquaculture use over the preceding decade and minimal expected future land-use change, including a low likelihood of future agriculture or aquaculture land use.
Use remotely sensed land-use data to determine leakage estimates, especially when coupled with models of land-use change.
Document positive leakage when project activities are expected to lead to additional carbon benefits beyond the project boundaries, and provide supporting evidence even if the methodology does not require it.
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