Blue carbon trade prioritised under blue economy

DODOMA: BLUE carbon trade has been identified as a priority area under the national development agenda, with the government seeking to expand carbon projects along the coastline and attract investment to support coastal communities and boost economic growth.

Deputy Minister in the Vice-President’s Office (Union and Environment), Mr Reuben Kwagilwa, told the National Assembly yesterday that blue carbon development has been given prominence in the National Blue Economy Policy of 2024 and its implementation strategy for 2024-2034.

He said the government is focusing on establishing blue carbon projects and attracting investors to tap opportunities available in coastal ecosystems, particularly mangrove forests, while promoting environmental conservation and sustainable economic development.

“Given its importance, the government has prioritised the development of blue carbon projects and the attraction of investment in this sector to ensure coastal communities benefit while contributing to national economic growth,” Mr Kwagilwa said.

He said this while responding to a basic question from Special Seats MP, Maryam Azan Mwinyi (CCM), who sought to know which coastal areas have benefited from blue carbon initiatives.

Mr Kwagilwa said the government, through the VicePresident’s Office and the National Carbon Monitoring Centre (NCMC), has registering carbon trading projects across the country, including several located in coastal areas.

He listed the registered projects as the Mimbiki Project in Chalinze, the Mikoko Carbon Sink Project operating in Mkinga, Mkuranga, Tanga City and Pangani, the Carbon for Farmers Project covering Coast, Tanga, Lindi and Mtwara regions, the Organic West Composite Tanzania Project in Mkuranga and the Buyuni REDD+ Farm Carbon Project in the Coast Region.

ALSO READ: Tanzania calls for Australia’s support in advancing carbon trading and community awareness

According to him, all the projects are currently at early stages of implementation and are expected to generate economic benefits once operational activities are completed and carbon credit sales commence.

He said successful implementation of the projects would enable more coastal communities to benefit from carbon trading, particularly blue carbon initiatives linked to the conservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems.

Mr Kwagilwa added that the projects form part of broader efforts to promote the blue economy, create new sources of income for communities and support environmental sustainability.

“We expect the emerging blue carbon market to contribute to climate change mitigation efforts while opening new economic opportunities for coastal populations through conservation-based investments,” he said.