Blue carbon' refers to the world’s carbon stores that are stashed in the plants and soil of coastal and marine ecosystems-including mangroves. As we straddle the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), the demand to save and grow mangroves through restoration and protection is gaining increasing attention. Not only to achieve global target, but mangroves also gain their popularity to answer the national agenda in Indonesia. Indonesia has set a target to restore 600,000 hectares of mangroves by 2024 as part of its wider goal to achieve a Forest and Other Land Use Net Sink by 2030. To make it happen, CIFOR-ICRAF conducted a project called Restoring Coastal Landscape for Adaptation Integrated Mitigation (ReCLAIM). ReCLAIM is a collaborative effort between CIFOR and various Indonesian partners representing universities, government agencies and civil society with support from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. This project aims to find out what’s needed at local, provincial, and national levels to enhance recognition of blue carbon ecosystems through evidence-based mangrove restoration for improved livelihoods, food security and nutrition benefits to the coastal communities.
