Why this work? 

Blue carbon storage—carbon sequestration in coastal wetlands—can help coastal managers and policymakers achieve broader wetlands management, restoration, and conservation goals, in part by securing payment for carbon credits. The Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve has been at the forefront of blue carbon research, working with end users in the Northeastern United States to provide the information and tools needed to bring blue carbon projects to the carbon market. This project brings those informational resources and educational approaches to Gulf Coast end users to spur their connections to existing blue carbon networks.

About this project 

The Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve is leveraging approaches and lessons learned from the first “Bringing Wetlands to Market” project, which was developed by the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and supported by the Science Collaborative from the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. Using the original project’s successful “Roadshow Dialogues” model, the Mission-Aransas Reserve team will provide outreach in order to communicate blue carbon concepts and highlight relevant scientific research to currently engaged blue carbon end users. Outreach efforts not only will identify ways to incorporate blue carbon benefits into wetlands conservation and restoration activities but also will identify carbon finance opportunities. The project will boost support for restoration and conservation in several ways: it will connect Gulf Coast blue carbon end users with established blue carbon networks; provide long-term and sustained technical assistance opportunities and connections to carbon finance markets; and it will engage the public’s interest in blue carbon education through tours, videos or other media, and two “Bay Talks” lectures. 

Project lead and contact

Dana Sjostrom, Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve, Email: dana.sjostrom@utexas.edu

To learn more, view the project fact sheet (PDF).