Mangrove Forest Restoration and Grassroots Climate Action in Central America
Affiliate Event: Global Climate Action Summit
September 13, 10 am – noon Pacific

Workshop summary

Mangrove forests are among the world’s most powerful carbon sinks. Although mangroves only occupy less than 1% of the global coastal area, they contribute up to 15% of the carbon stored in coastal sediment.[1] Unfortunately, mangrove forests are also some of the world’s most threatened habitats. EcoViva works in partnership with community-based organizations, governmental institutions, and funders to protect and restore mangrove forests in El Salvador.

Our event will convene US and Salvadoran government officials, advocates, scientists and funders to discuss best practices and models for collaboration to develop local solutions for both carbon sequestration and climate adaptation through community-based initiatives to study, protect and restore mangrove forests in Central America. In addition, we will facilitate a conversation with representatives from the Climate Action Reserve and a community-based mangrove forest restoration project in Mexico. They will explain how the California voluntary carbon offset registry works and the steps to include a mangrove restoration project into its portfolio.

Registration is now closed.

PROGRAM

Welcome and session goals
Karolo Aparicio, Douglas Chica, and Ana Ahern, EcoViva

Overview of community-based mangrove restoration in El Salvador: local and global implications
José Maria Argueta and Carmen Argueta, Asociación Mangle, El Salvador

Alianza Manglar: collaborative governance for mitigating climate change in El Salvador
Dr. Fiona Wilmot, PhD, Geography

Helping Resilience Take Root
Shalini Nataraj, Ing Foundation

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MARN) and Civil Society: Dynamics in a Collaboration for Mangrove Restoration
Carlos Giovanni Rivera, MARN, El Salvador

Observations and key takeaways
Karolo Aparicio, Douglas Chica, and Ana Ahern, EcoViva

California voluntary carbon offsets and the path towards certification: a case study from a mangrove restoration project, Yucatan, Mexico
Amy Kessler, Climate Action Reserve and José Inés Loria Palma and Monica Andrea Pech Cardenas, Ejido San Crisanto

Q&A and Close

[1] Alongi, Daniel M. “Carbon Cycling and Storage in Mangrove Forests,” Annual Review of Marine Science 2014 6:1, 195-219.