Vietnam blue carbon opportunity assessment

Marine and coastal ecosystems, including mangroves and seagrass meadows, are global hotspots for “blue carbon” storage in vegetation and soils, but face mounting pressure from human activities and climate change. Mechanisms that mobilize foreign direct investment to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and enhance sustainable development, such as voluntary carbon projects, offer financing that can complement government efforts. We assessed blue carbon opportunities in Vietnam focusing on mangroves and seagrass in the Mekong Delta coastal provinces (Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ben Tre and Tien Giang). Object-based image analysis was used to quantify changes in the extent of mangroves from 2016 - 2024. To assess fluctuations in seagrass meadow areas we projected historical changes in seagrass coverage reported in the literature. Emissions of CO2 resulting from changes in mangrove forest and seagrass meadow coverages were estimated using literature-based emission factors. Overall, mangrove coverage in the Mekong Delta coastal provinces declined between 2016 and 2024, despite areas of mangrove expansion. CO2 removals from mangrove area increase did not offset CO2 emissions from mangrove loss during 2016–2024. Our analysis revealed substantial losses in some areas, highlighting the complex dynamics of mangrove conservation. The total net impact of mangrove loss and reforestation in the seven provinces during this period was 14.5 million Mg CO2, with Ca Mau province contributing 77% of emissions. The magnitude of potential CO2 emissions from seagrass loss was smaller, at 31.4 thousand Mg CO2, concentrated in the area of Phu Quoc Island in Kien Giang province. Our results emphasize the need to avoid continued conversion of mangroves, despite gains in mangrove forest areas.

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17528/cifor-icraf/009370

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