Coastal Blue Carbon Critical Tool for Increasing Coastal Habitat Restoration and Protection K. Diane Hoskins Director of Government Relations Restore America’s Estuaries

Overview Who is Restore America’s Estuaries? Why does Restore America’s Estuaries care about blue carbon? What are we doing about it? Where are we going?

Significant habitat losses:

Estuaries are important

Blue Carbon at the nexus of: Coastal Ecosystem Restoration Adaptation Planning Climate Change Mitigation

Market & Nonmarket Blue Carbon Tools 1.Receive Carbon Finance 2.Improve Land Management 3.Stimulate New Projects 4.Improve Policies

RAE Advancing Market Incentives Available online at:

Tidal Wetland and Seagrass Restoration Methodology Submitted to Verified Carbon Standard December 2013 Public review and comment: Feb 11 – Mar 12, 2014 Under first external assessment Draft available at search “wetland” Authors Dr. Igino Emmer, Silvestrum Dr. Brian Needelman, University of Maryland Steve Emmett-Mattox, RAE Dr. Stephen Crooks, ESA Dr. Pat Megonigal, Smithsonian Env. Research Center Doug Myers, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Matthew Oreska, University of Virginia Dr. Karen McGlathery, University of Virginia

Tidal Wetland and Seagrass Restoration Methodology RAE Goals Ecologically appropriate Scientifically credible Meet requirements of stringent GHG standards Broadly applicable to restoration Flexible in its use Practicable

Methodology Overview What habitats? ▫Marshes, all salinity ranges ▫Mangroves ▫Seagrasses ▫Forested tidal wetlands What activities? ▫Restoration via enhancing, creating and/or managing hydrological conditions, sediment supply, salinity characteristics, water quality and/or native plant communities. Where? ▫Global

Snohomish Assessment: Climate Benefits of Estuary Restoration Authors: Dr. John Rybczyk, WWU Keeley O’Connell, EarthCorps Dr. Steve Crooks, ESA Danielle Devier, ESA Katrina Poppe, WWU Steve Emmett-Mattox, RAE Key Funders: NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation, The Boeing Company, and the Wildlife Forever Fund

Snohomish Estuary 2 nd largest estuary in Puget Sound 29% of wetlands lost in Puget Sound 4,749 ha of drained wetlands 1,353 ha of planned restoration

Study Approach 1.Analyzed historic, current and possible future conditions, including SLR 2.Measured soil carbon and accretion rates at representative sites 3.Applied carbon values to planned and full restoration scenarios

Climate Benefits, Existing Projects  Planned restoration of 1,353 ha would yield 2,553,000 tons CO 2 sequestration taking into account future sea level  This is equivalent to the emissions from 500,000 cars driving around for one year (5,000 cars per year for 100 years) Climate Benefits, Expanded Restoration  Full restoration of 4,393 ha would yield 8,980,000 tons CO 2 sequestration taking into account future sea level  Equivalent to the emissions from 1.76 million cars driving around for one-year (17,600 cars per year for 100 years)

Key Results 1.Emergent marsh restoration projects in the Snohomish estuary are highly resilient to sea level rise 2.Restore now – waiting will make it more difficult for emergent vegetation to re-colonize 3.Approach developed for this study is transferrable to other estuaries

What’s next? Tampa Assessment Guidance on Project Aggregation Developing Conservation Methodology National Work Group Increased Education and Outreach ▫Workshops for Coastal Land Managers and Restoration Practitioners  North Carolina  National Workshop

Thank you K. Diane Hoskins

GHG Offset Requirements