What is blue carbon?

Vegetated coastal ecosystems, including mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses, store large amounts of carbon in plant biomass and underlying sediments, known as blue carbon. There is increasing interest among policymakers and natural resource managers in quantifying and monetizing the carbon stored in blue carbon ecosystems. However, carbon cycling in the marine and coastal environment is complex. This complexity and the logistical issues in accurately measuring blue carbon limit our ability to manage and restore blue carbon ecosystems as nature-based tools for climate change mitigation. This publication provides a general introduction to the processes that affect net carbon storage in blue carbon habitats and addresses implications for natural resource managers interested in quantifying net carbon storage.