The role of local knowledge in the governance of blue carbon

Abstract

There are more than 1500 partnerships and initiatives currently addressing Sustainable Development Goal #14 (Life Below Water), with blue carbon activities – carbon-oriented conservation and restoration projects in coastal ecosystems – representing a small proportion. A key challenge for blue carbon initiatives is the integration of social and cultural dimensions within governance mechanisms – a common problem in global environmental governance. An important question is how these mechanisms integrate local knowledge, traditional customs, and rights, especially in the climate-vulnerable contexts of island states in the Indo-Pacific region. This study describes global blue carbon governance – considering market-based instruments, public investment, partnership initiatives, and community-centred management schemes – and evaluates the extent to which these different approaches facilitate or constrain the integration and agency of local knowledge. This research offers valuable insights on the applicability of blue carbon governance mechanisms in small island states (SIS) in the Indo-Pacific region, and their potential to contribute to sustainability outcomes including social-ecological health and environmental justice.