Programme Cooperation Agreement 2012 – 2013

Blue Carbon Project Guide During 2013, the GRID-Arendal Blue Carbon Programme combined two targeted MFA Work Programme outputs (the development of a Blue Carbon ecosystem-based man- agement strategy to support developing states and the production of a Blue Carbon Action Plan for national gov- ernments) into a deliverable for the Abu Dhabi Blue Car- bon Demonstration Project: a report entitled Building Blue Carbon Projects - An Introductory Guide . Rather than develop potentially conflicting or duplicative reports, it was decided that these efforts compliment and enhance each other and that we could leverage Abu Dhabi’s interest to produce a high quality product that would also meet our goals and interests. The report is intended to assist developing states in assessing their options for pursing Blue Carbon and eco- system-based management projects. Prepared in collabo- ration with many Blue Carbon partners, 33 the report draws on the experience of finalizing the GEF Blue Forests FSP, including project partner discussions and case studies. The report is expected to be published in January 2014. Blue Carbon Portal GRID-Arendal has continued to maintain the Blue Carbon Portal, 34 a comprehensive community-based website for all matters related to blue carbon. The Portal is co-managed 33. Report partners included UNEP, UNEP-WCMC, IUCN, Blue Climate Solutions, The Ocean Foundation, Forest Trends, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Blue Ventures, the Governments of Abu Dhabi, Indonesia and the Seychelles, and leading scientists in the field of Blue Carbon. 34. C:\Users\luana\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\ Content.Outlook\SMKGGTOL\bluecarbonportal.org

with UNEP and received over 11,600 visits during 2013, with at least 8% of the visits coming from three develop- ing nations (India, Indonesia and Kenya). GRID-Arendal ensures high quality control on Portal posts and stories, provides technical capacity for web site maintenance, and solicits Portal stories from international Blue Carbon part- ners. The Portal continues to support the rapidly grow- ing Blue Carbon community and serves as a Blue Carbon Network - a virtual space to connect, share ideas and re- sources, and discuss issues. The Portal has been cited as a “selected international online resource on Blue Carbon” in a 2013 report issued by the Commonwealth Secretariat. 35 additional components of the blue carbon pro - gramme funded by other ( non - mfa ) sources Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project The Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project was initiated in November 2012 and is executed and managed by GRID-Arendal through a NOK 10 million contract with AGEDI. Although MFA funds have not been used in its execution, we have used this project to leverage activities and impact for our Blue Carbon Programme. During 2013 the entire project was offered by AGEDI’s main funder, the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency, 36 to the GEF Blue Forests Project as 100% co-finance and is now considered one of the five ‘featured interventions’ of the GEF project. The Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project is expect- ed to be completed in January 2014.

35. Laffoley, D.d’A., 2013. The management of coastal carbon sinks in Vanuatu: realising the potential. A report to the Government of Vanuatu. Commonwealth Secretariat. London. 36. https://www.ead.ae/en

SIGNIFICANT OUTCOME: Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project Significant results from the Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project present excellent policy targets and examples of lessons learnt for the application of Blue Carbon through the other GEF Blue Forests Project interventions and other international projects and efforts. Results to date include the following: • The Emirate of Dubai will be using the project’s methodology and ecosystem services habitat protocols to carry out similar assessments; • The Northern Emirates, especially two important habitat sites, will be incorporated into future AGEDI Blue Carbon work; • Project findings have been incorporated into Abu Dhabi’s National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NB- SAP) report; • Project findings have been incorporated into the Abu Dhabi Environmental Performance Index (AD-EPI) report; • Project findings have been incorporated into Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) business planning towards the Climate Change programme; • Project findings have been directly incorporated into the Abu Dhabi 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan (Abu Dhabi Capital 2030), planning for the Al Gharbia Region (Al Gharbia 2030) and marine spatial plans; and • Project findings have been directly utilized by Abu Dhabi municipality. Quote from H.E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General, Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD): “Mangroves, along with the coastal ecosystem are key to maintained and improved sustainability of our Emirate. The Abu Dhabi blue Carbon Demonstration Project is an invaluable initiative, not only for the duration of the project but beyond. The experience and knowledge gained from this local project will help pave the way for other national blue carbon projects and international efforts for a greener economy and natural climate change mitigation.”

25