Mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, saltwater marshes – these and other ‘blue forests’ are vital to coastal and island communities around the world
Social Justice
Informed and empowered communities are vital to ensure effective blue carbon projects. Social justice initiatives within blue carbon projects should incorporate social safeguards and equity considerations to reduce risk and support sustainable and long-term project outcomes.
Finance supporting communities explanation
360 Importance community engagement
What are the key principles of social justice?
Access: Communities should have access to the fundamental resources necessary to sustain livelihoods and to sites of cultural and spiritual importance
Equity: Specific needs of marginalised communities should be met without discrimination against gender, race, sexual identity or class
Participation: Communities should have an active role in decision-making processes for outcomes that directly affect their lives
How can social justice and equality be ensured in a blue forests project?
In 2017, the Blue Forests Project established a Blue Carbon Code of Conduct in partnership with UN Environment, GRID-Arendal, and the Kenyan Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, which identifies the following social justice components to be addressed in community-led blue forests projects to help reduce risk and ensure the sustainability of project outcomes:
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Fair conservation governance and decision-making processes
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Socially-just conservation actions and outcomes
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Accountable conservation initiatives and organizations
What types of participatory approaches are used in community-led projects?
In Madagascar, community organizations established participatory decision-making processes where partner villages within mangroves were responsible for identifying the priority areas for social investment projects to improve well-being – i.e., solar panels, safe drinking water projects, and improved buildings for schools.
In Kenya, community-based management plans also include participatory decision-making processes, where community associations plan activities and allocate profits based on local needs and capabilities. These profits derived from the Plan Vivo carbon offsetting mechanism are guaranteed to be fairly distributed between participants and project coordinators, with at least 60% of the money from every Plan Vivo Certificate purchased going directly to the participants.
What are the risks to communities from blue carbon projects?
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Restriction of natural resource use, including the restriction or facilitation of productive activities such as fisheries, aquaculture or other livelihood activities.
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External shocks, such as natural disasters and economic inflation, could disrupt the carbon stock used for carbon offset trading, for example.
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Social conflict, as some community members might profit or benefit from certain employment or income increases more than others.
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Lack of participation, which can occur due to unfeasible restrictions for entering PES schemes.
What are the benefits to communities from blue carbon projects?
A community-led blue carbon project that incorporates social justice principles can potentially have numerous benefits for community members including:
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More sustainable natural resource use
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Decline in general rate of poverty in community
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Increased food security
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Improvement in household or community nutrition and health
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Households have livelihood activities/strategies that better allow them to resist and cope with economic shocks and emergencies
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Increase in development aid/investment in the community from new government, donors, investors (additional to carbon project-related investment)
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Community gain voice and participation/representation in new fora
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Rural population maintained (due to in-migration and/or slowed rate of out-migration to urban areas resulting from increased incomes and/or employment opportunities)
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Increase in community spending on education
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School or other educational infrastructure established or improved
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Improved levels of literacy or education
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Improvement in quality of housing
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Improvement in communications services/infrastructure or electrical grid/ generation established or improved (from household and/or community investment, and/or improved infrastructure)
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Improvement of infrastructure (broadly speaking) due to gained access to external resources and power brokers
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Wells and/or water supply infrastructure established or improved
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New or improved water, sanitation or other facilities
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Increase in gender equality in social organizations and productive enterprises
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Foster gender equality by providing innovative approaches, technical support, policy development and capacity building
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Decrease in social conflict
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Community organization established or strengthened
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Improved recognition and respect for human rights
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Improved access and voice to national and international stakeholders (government, investors, donors)
Blue Forests Communities and Social Justice
