Investing in Mangroves 2025

Corporations can improve the scientific rigour of their decision-making processes by registering with standards organizations. For example, companies can reference: –ICROA Endorsement for a selection of carbon crediting programmes independently assessed and endorsed by ICROA, based on a number of criteria to reinforce integrity.66 –Precise monitoring and evaluation of outcomes (such as through VeriTree)67 to support the credibility of mangroves as climate and nature solutions. While companies can outsource some reputational risk to standards organizations, they should remain vigilant, as some standards bodies have suffered reputational damage and may have conflicts of interest.68 Nevertheless, waiting for the perfect solution is not an option. Corporations interested in mangrove- positive action have no choice but to act now, navigate the uncertainty, and lead and learn in the open69 to help build nascent markets, despite the absence of clear market standards and regulation. 1.3 Governments should create enabling conditions that invite high-quality investment Governments can play an essential role in increasing investment into mangrove ecosystems and communities that depend on them, by creating the legal and policy frameworks within which projects can thrive and investors can feel confident. To support governments in this, the World Economic Forum launched the Blue Carbon Action Partnership (BCAP) with support from the UK Blue Planet Fund. Through BCAP , countries can create National Blue Carbon Action Partnerships (NBCAP). The NBCAP serves as a country-driven platform to coordinate stakeholders and create national roadmaps for blue carbon action and finance, creating the enabling conditions to help de-risk investment in relevant projects. In Indonesia, the Philippines and Viet Nam – countries that collectively account for 23% of the world’s total mangrove area70 – NBCAPs under development highlight the leadership of these governments in supporting a blended finance approach to increasing investment in mangrove ecosystems and their communities. Governments around the world are increasingly working to bolster mangrove conservation and restoration. Notably, the Mangrove Breakthrough (see Box 4), which has set global ambitions for mangrove conservation, restoration and related finance, is now endorsed by 36 national and subnational governments. Companies reading this Playbook can look to these geographies for enabling conditions to maximize corporate investment impact and scalability in blue carbon ecosystems. Mangrove Breakthrough establishes global goals BOX 4 The Mangrove Breakthrough was launched at the UN’s COP27 climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh in 2022, in collaboration with the Global Mangrove Alliance and the UN’s Climate High-Level Champions. This global initiative seeks to mobilize $4 billion and protect 15 million hectares of mangroves globally by 2030. The Mangrove Breakthrough brings together various stakeholders, including governments, non- governmental organizations (NGOs) and financiers to work collectively towards four goals: –Reduce net mangrove losses driven by direct human actions to zero. –Restore mangroves to cover at least half of all recent losses. –Double the protection of remaining mangroves, from 40% to 80%. –Ensure sustainable, long-term finance for all existing mangroves.71 Key to meeting the goals of the Mangrove Breakthrough will be strengthening strategic partnerships between governments, public and private financial institutions, NGOs and philanthropies behind the initiative. Corporate investment from multiple angles is essential to achieve the target to mobilize $4 billion for mangroves. Multi-stakeholder collaboration between corporations and other stakeholders is essential to ensure high-quality investment. The Mangrove Breakthrough aims to facilitate these actions for global mangrove-positive efforts. The Mangrove Breakthrough, which has set global ambitions for mangrove conservation, restoration and related finance, is now endorsed by 36 national and subnational governments. Source: Mangrove Breakthrough. Investing in Mangroves: The Corporate Playbook 13