We’re excited to share a recent paper co-authored by Dr. Severino Salmo III on regional blue carbon and climate mitigation across Southeast Asia and the Philippines, titled Mangrove blue carbon in Southeast Asia, published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment.
Analyzing carbon dynamics across Southeast Asia, which is home to over a third of global mangroves, reveals that up to 86% of regional blue carbon is locked in deep, anoxic soils. In the Philippines and across the region, avoiding mangrove loss is a critical natural climate solution that can prevent over 13.5 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions annually. In addition, conserving intact mangroves must be prioritized over restoration alone, as planted stands rarely replicate the deep soil carbon density of mature natural forests. Realizing the region’s full blue carbon potential ultimately requires resolving land tenure ambiguities, avoiding double-counting risks, and establishing equitable, community-centered coastal governance.
The findings provide an evidence-based roadmap for national blue carbon policy and conservation in the region and specifically, in the Philippines.
Read more here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-026-00838-3
