SWAMP – Global Mangrove Carbon Recovery Assessment

Under the SWAMP program, this global research initiative assessed four decades of data to evaluate carbon stock recovery in planted mangrove ecosystems compared to intact reference forests. The study compiled and harmonized data from 809 planted mangrove stands and 437 intact stands across 24 countries, producing the first global Bayesian nonlinear modelling assessment of biomass and soil carbon recovery trajectories.

The results, published in Science Advances (2024), provide evidence-based benchmarks for blue carbon restoration planning, climate finance decision-making, and nature-based solution investments. The research contributes to improving integrity and predictability in blue carbon crediting and ecosystem restoration strategies worldwide.

Key Contributions & Impact

• Coordinated the compilation and harmonization of 40 years of global mangrove carbon data
• Standardized aboveground, belowground, and soil carbon datasets (to 1 m depth)
• Georeferenced global study sites using GIS and Google Earth Engine
• Recalculated biomass and soil carbon stocks using harmonized methodologies