Blue Carbon represents the distinctive carbon stocks and fluxes into or out of coastal wetlands such as marshes, mangroves, and seagrasses. This book is a compendium of the state of the science, the state of maps and mapping protocols, and the state of policy incentives in the Blue Carbon concept.

Introduction. Why BC is important for conservation, restoration, mitigation, adaptation, threats. State of Science. Geomorphology/history/setting and overview of human impacts on BC. Fate of coastal C fluxes in open ocean (allochtonous and eroding marshes). C modelling (physical processes and intercomparison). Whole Marsh Budget (NECB). C accretion rates - method and site differences. Revisit of 2003 compilation on carbon burial rates. Global Warming Potential calculations - GHGs (CH4, N2O). DIC dynamics and carbonate precipitation. Sea Level Rise. State of Mapping. Mangrove approaches/Land cover change and restoration potential. Marsh approaches/Land cover change and restoration potential. Seagrass approaches/Land cover change and restoration potential. ESRI global product. State of Policy. International Policy (REDD, IUCN) - Capacity building/technology transfer/finance/safeguards. UNFCCC/National Accounting. National Policies. Economics (Price vs Value/Social Cost of Carbon). New directions for synergies, i.e., fisheries in ecosystem services. Operationalizing. Methodology for BC accounting. Protocol for BC accounting. Proxies for BC accounting. Management linking mitigation and adaptations. Case Studies. Indonesia (REDD). California Delta (mitigation/adaptation). Abu Dhabi (Policy based, STOCKS). Kenya (project). Waquoit Bay, MA (science). Tampa Bay, FL (demonstration project). Mexico - Redd+, mangroves. Future Directions. Integrating Approaches, Impending Threats, Specific Gaps in Knowledge. Links with green infrastructure and ocean acidification.