Coastal wetlands, particularly tidal marshes, seagrass meadows and tidal forests such as mangroves, store and sequester carbon within biomass and soils. Commonly referred to as coastal “blue carbon” ecosystems because of their relevance for the global carbon cycle, these ecosystems provide climate mitigation benefits and a range of other ecosystem services that underpin coastal livelihoods and support adaptation to climate change. These ecosystem services include habitat and food chain support for many species of commercial fish, nutrient recycling, shoreline stabilization, storm protection and flood attenuation.
United Nations Environment Programme
