Assessing the potential of carbon finance to protect mangroves Senegal

Context of the service

With more than 15,000 ha restored in ten years, Senegal is an example at the international level in terms of mangrove restoration. Nearly 8,000 hectares of rehabilitated land have thus been valued on the voluntary carbon market. Mangrove conservation and restoration contributes to the country's biodiversity commitments, as well as its Designated National Contribution (NDC).

The French Development Agency supports these efforts through the "Project to support Senegal's marine protected areas policy through the conservation and sustainable development of mangroves in Casamance and Sine Saloum".

As part of this project, this study aims to:

- Identify mangrove restoration initiatives, particularly those that have received carbon financing;

- Assess the potential for additional mangroves that can be restored, the amount of carbon that could therefore be sequestered, and the funds that can be mobilized;

- Make concrete recommendations to mobilize carbon finance for mangroves.

Services provided

The services were as follows:

- Mapping of mangrove restoration actors in Senegal and of restored sites;

- Comparative analysis of the different options for mobilising carbon funds and assessment of the advantages/disadvantages in relation to the Senegalese experience;

- Spatial analysis, identification and assessment of the potential for mangrove restoration and associated carbon storage;

- Analysis of the legal, institutional and fiscal context, as well as the decision-making and validation procedures for restoration operations, monitoring capacities and responses to double counting risks;

- Recommendations to the Senegalese Government and its partners to improve the mobilisation of blue carbon finance to finance mangrove restoration initiatives and contribute to the achievement of the NDC.

Summary of the service

Assessment of the potential of carbon finance for mangrove conservation in Senegal: capitalization of past initiatives and assessment of future prospects; comparative analysis of the different mechanisms for mobilizing carbon credits (CDM or voluntary approaches); recommendations to the Senegalese Government and its partners to improve the mobilization of carbon finance for mangrove restoration initiatives and contribute to the achievement of the NDC.