The International Blue Carbon and Wetlands Conference 2026, held in Port of Spain on Monday, brought together global experts, policymakers, and environmental activists to advance the action on protecting wetlands and regional ecosystems.
Coastal wetlands, mangroves, seagrasses, and tidal marshes—commonly known as blue carbon ecosystems—are among the planet’s most powerful carbon sinks, storing carbon ten times more efficiently than terrestrial forests.
These healthy wetlands are not just an environmental asset but are essential in economic and climate resilience, underpinning global livelihoods and protection from storm surges and coastal erosion.
British High Commissioner Jon Dean noted that since 2019, the severely underfunded blue carbon initiative has prompted regional experts, communities, and officials to expand the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of blue carbon ecosystems across the region.
“SDG 14 is one of the least funded of the UNSDGs, with the latest estimates suggesting we need around $150 billion more annually going towards this target to ensure we can protect the ocean environment and support coastal communities globally.”
Mr. Dean said the core reason ocean development is not getting the finance needed is the lack of reliable data available for marine ecosystems.
“Through Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification, or MRV systems, like the one being developed by our partners at the University of the West Indies, we will be able to do just that. We will also be able to help countries in the Caribbean and Latin America to establish and meet the targets set out in the nationally determined contributions.”
Professor Derrick Chadee, at the University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus, said that the implementation of the Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) mechanism has ensured the credibility of blue carbon data in the global carbon credit markets and policy negotiations.
“The teams have integrated Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) to map mangrove structure, capturing mangrove biomass with accuracy that traditional surveys cannot match.”
The theme for the International Blue Carbon and Wetlands Conference 2026 was Anchored in Action: Standardising and Advancing Blue Carbon Solutions.