Sign in Subscribe
Natural resources

Scaled-Up Coordination Needed to Safeguard Blue Carbon Ecosystems in the Philippines

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the Philippines grapples with the aftermath of historic typhoon activity in 2024, members of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and others are calling for scaled-up coordination to safeguard blue carbon ecosystems. Community-led projects, such as mangrove forest restoration, are crucial in increasing local capacity to recover from climactic shocks. The National Blue Carbon Action Partnership (NBCAP), with the support of ZSL, is implementing blue carbon initiatives to deliver both protection and income for coastal communities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Philippines is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, ranking number one globally on the World Risk Index.
  • Mangrove forests provide key marine habitats and protect coastlines from storms, supporting more than 4.1 million mangrove fishers globally and about 1.4 trillion commercially important fish and bivalves.
  • The Philippines has an opportunity to work with its unique natural habitats to mitigate the effects of increasingly violent tropical storms, with at least 50% of the world's mangrove species found in the country.
  • The destruction caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013 renewed national interest in the role of ecosystems in mitigating the effects of climate disasters.
  • A disconnect exists between cities and coastal communities, and climate change is bringing this closer to home, highlighting the need for continued investment in blue carbon ecosystems.
  • The Philippines National Blue Carbon Action Project (NBCAP) seeks to address this disconnect and enable investment to flow into blue carbon ecosystems, with the support and guidance of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
  • Building capacity and increasing resilience through mangrove ecosystem restoration can enhance national and local capacities to cope with, adapt to, and recover from present and future shocks.
  • Climate change is having a significant impact on the Philippines, with cyclone damage costing the country around $324 million in damages in 2023, and global damage from climate change estimated to cost between $19 trillion and $59 trillion per year by 2049.

Statistics:

  • The Philippines is ranked number one globally on the World Risk Index.
  • At least 50% of the world's mangrove species are found in the Philippines.
  • Mangrove forests support more than 4.1 million mangrove fishers globally.
  • Mangrove ecosystems improve water quality at a local level.
  • Cyclone damage costs the country around $324 million in damages per year.
  • Global damage from climate change is estimated to cost between $19 trillion and $59 trillion per year by 2049.

Sources:

  • Garcia, K., Gevaña, D., & Malabrigo, P. (2013). Philippines' mangrove ecosystem: Status, threats, and conservation. In: Faridah-Hanum, I., Latiff, A., Hakeem, K., Ozturk, M. (eds) Mangrove Ecosystems of Asia. Springer, New York, NY. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-8582-7_5
  • World Economic Forum (WEF). (n.d.). Investing in Mangroves 2025. Retrieved from
  • National Blue Carbon Action Partnership (NBCAP). (n.d.). Mangrove Breakwaters in Ajuy. Retrieved from
  • World Bank (2024). The Philippines: Climate Change and Economic Growth. Retrieved from

Read more