Carbon pools and multiple benefits

Given the high values and multiple benefits of mangroves, as evidenced by this report, focusing on mangroves could be attractive to REDD+ policymakers who are interested in maximizing social and environmental benefits for communities. However, in order for mangroves to be included in REDD+ strategies, it is imperative that the countries have a national definition of forests that includes mangroves in the definition. If this is not the case, then it is not possible to include activities focusing on mangroves in national REDD+ strategies. At this stage national REDD+ strategies are being developed for the region, and it is the opportune time to include activities focusing on mangroves and the multiple benefits mangroves deliver. The report points to the mangroves of Central Africa as being an exceptional ecosystem relative to global carbon stocks, with higher carbon stocks measured here than many

other ecosystems around the world. REDD+ strategies can incentivize and support conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. This report thus provides a strong case for the inclusion of mangroves in national REDD+ strategies given their high carbon value and additional multiple benefits, and also the levels of threat to the ecosystem and the associated rates of loss in the region. We hope that this report can serve as a baseline study for future regional and national studies on mangrove ecosystems, as well as for the development and implementation of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. It would be beneficial that mangroves be part of REDD+ strategies as REDD+ processes not only could attract additional financial resources to mangroves, but REDD+ also offers an avenue to design integrated and comprehensive policy- based solutions to mangrove deforestation.

Mangrove measurements in Ntem © Gordon N Ajonina

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