Blue Carbon Investment Potential in Lamu and Kwale Counties of Kenya: Carbon Inventory and Market Prospects

Mangroves and seagrasses in Lamu and Kwale Counties, Kenya, store substantial carbon, with mangrove densities reaching 560.23 Mg C ha−1 in Lamu and 526.34 Mg C ha−1 in Kwale—over 70% of which is locked in sediments. These ecosystems also outperform national averages for seagrass carbon storage (171.65–220.29 Mg C ha−1), offering significant potential for climate mitigation through carbon markets. However, mangrove and seagrass degradation—losing 0.49% to 0.67% annually—poses risks, with projected emissions of up to 18.96 million tCO2e in Lamu under a business-as-usual scenario. Restoration could unlock revenues of USD 3.59 million annually for mangroves and USD 216,040 for seagrasses at a conservative carbon price of $20/tCO2e, highlighting the dual benefits of blue carbon investments for climate action and local livelihoods.

Kairo, J. G., Mbatha, A., Wanyoike, G. N., Mungai, F., Githinji, B. K., Lang’at, J. K. S., Kinya, G., Kosgei, G. K., Mary, K., & Oming’o, L. (2025). Blue Carbon Investment Potential in Lamu and Kwale Counties of Kenya: Carbon Inventory and Market Prospects. Forests, 16(11), 1717. https://doi.org/10.3390/f16111717