Reforestation📍 Sindh, PakistanVerified by ICONTEC

Delta Blue Carbon

The largest restoration project in the world, Delta Blue seeks to restore 225,000 hectares of land through large-scale mangrove restoration on the Indus Delta in Pakistan.

The Delta Blue Carbon project seeks to to restore degraded lands through large-scale mangrove reforestation on the Indus Delta in Pakistan. While the area was previously covered in mangroves, which sequester 3-5 times more CO2 per hectare than upland tropical forests, they largely disappeared by the 1980s. The project will ultimately plant mangroves on nearly 225,000 hectares of land and estimates that it will remove over 2.4 million tonnes of CO2e per year. This makes it the largest restoration program in the world. Despite inherent challenges involved in mangrove restoration projects, Delta Blue is also highly regarded, with Renoster stating that its "governance, design, and execution is well orchestrated and scientifically rigorous."

Developer: Government of Sindh, Forest Department & Indus Delta Capital Ltd.
Methodology: VM0033
Permanence: 100
Registry: Verra

UN Sustainable Development Goals

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Credit issuances by vintage

2015

8,843,000 t

2016

17,165,000 t

2017

129,012,000 t

2018

221,161,000 t

2019

360,309,000 t

2020

1,105,015,000 t

2021

2,213,088,000 t

2022

2,963,447,000 t

2023

602,267,000 t

Notable buyers

JP Morgan Chase · Microsoft · Salesforce · Standard Chartered · Air Canada

In the news

State of the Blue Carbon Market Report
Forest Trends · 10/4/2024
Our take: Mangrove restoration represents a promising but still nascent market opportunity, with credits currently trading at premium prices due to their multiple environmental and social benefits. Despite their high value, these credits currently comprise less than 1% of the voluntary carbon market. While there is growing demand from both corporate buyers and governments for blue carbon credits, with 10.9MtCO2e traded between 2020-2023, the supply remains constrained by factors like high upfront capital costs and limited verification capacity. More projects like Delta Blue Carbon are needed to help meet this demand and address critical climate issues.
Verra Revises Blue Carbon Methodology
Verra · 7/11/2023
Our take: Verra is revising its VM0033 methodology for tidal wetlands and seagrass to expand its scope beyond restoration to include conservation activities, while also updating quantification methods and additionality assessments to reflect current best practices. These updates, particularly the revised procedures for quantifying soil organic carbon and establishing project baselines, should help Delta Blue more accurately measure and verify its carbon removals.
The Magic of Mangroves
The Times · 7/26/2024
Our take: This article demonstrates the critical role of mangroves in carbon sequestration, coastal protection, and supporting biodiversity and local communities. It also discusses the threats they face from climate change and human activities. This context underscores why Delta Blue Carbon's large-scale restoration work in the Indus Delta is so important - it not only addresses carbon sequestration, but also helps build climate resilience and preserve biodiversity in one of the world's largest arid mangrove ecosystems.
Pakistan's Mangrove Carbon Credit Sales and Expansion Plans
Arab News · 8/18/2024
Our take: Delta Blue Carbon's mangrove restoration projects in Pakistan's Indus Delta, one of the world's largest arid climate mangrove forests, are working to restore 450,000 hectares of degraded mangrove ecosystems by 2030. These projects are particularly significant for climate action as mangroves can absorb four times more carbon dioxide than other trees. Delta Blue Carbon has been so successful that the project has been able to expand and create a second mangrove restoration project. These projects provide critical climate and ecosystem services while also generating a significant amount of income for the local government.

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