The St. Augustine Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (STACIE) at the University of the West Indies (UWI), the executing agency of the Regional Blue Carbon Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) Mechanism project funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), is hosting the International Blue Carbon and Wetlands Conference 2-3 February 2026 at the Radisson Hotel in Trinidad under the theme: Anchored in Action: Standardizing and Advancing Blue Carbon Solutions. The aim of this conference is to provide a regional LAC platform that brings together scientists, policymakers, conservationists, local community and climate financiers to share research, discuss policy solutions, and collaborate on strategies to protect and restore blue carbon ecosystems, inclusive of coastal wetlands, mangroves, salt marshes, seagrasses, as a critical component in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem degradation. We are inviting persons to register using the link below.
International Blue Carbon and Wetlands Conference 2026 Participant Registration Form – Fill out form
ABOUT THE BLUE CARBON MRV REGIONAL PROJECT
The blue carbon monitoring verification and reporting (MRV) system for mangrove ecosystems in the region was implemented in 2022. The MRV program aims to better coordinate and align MRV systems and share information about the sequestration and release of blue carbon in mangrove systems for participant countries of the United Kingdom's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Blue Carbon Fund administered by the IDB. The Fund was established to help reduce the negative impacts of climate change on blue carbon ecosystems. The overarching regional MRV project is currently being used to help monitor the progress of the projects in Panama, Colombia, Jamaica and Suriname and share scientific advancements through a Community of Practice.
The projected end goals of the standardized MRV system are to:
1. Improve the valuation of ecosystem services provided by mangrove ecosystem;
2. Potentially include blue carbon data in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) schemes, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) programs, and carbon markets programs; and
3. Utilize the MRV system for results-based payments under a reforestation program.
While mangrove forests in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are small compared to larger countries, it can be argued that they are some of the most productive, support rich biodiversity and in the case of Panama and Colombia are transit pathways to other countries. The restoration of mangrove forests for carbon sequestration is gaining significant interest worldwide to reduce the impact of climate change. In LAC, there are varying levels of progress toward accreditation of carbon credits. Through capacity building and knowledge sharing from the regional project, a network of core professionals from LAC in the blue carbon sphere came together to share best practices, recommendations and lessons learnt in the blue carbon MRV.
The Regional MRV program will develop and implement a standardized MRV for the blue carbon captured in mangrove ecosystems for those LAC countries that are beneficiaries of the Fund, which will help the Bank report on its progress. Data collected from all projects in the blue carbon program will be used for reporting on the United Kingdom's Blue Carbon Fund. Estimates from these projects can be compared to estimates prepared using the system developed in this project to review accuracy. This will be useful to countries as Article 5.1 of the Paris Agreement states, "Parties should take action to conserve and enhance, as appropriate, sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases as referred to in Article 4, paragraph 1 (d), of the Convention, including forests." The development of the regional MRV will indirectly contribute to building climate change resilience in the region by helping to increase the capacity to monitor the release and sequestration of blue carbon at project sites. The United Kingdom's Blue Carbon Fund administered by the IDB is currently supporting projects in Jamaica, Suriname, Panama and Colombia.
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
Three years into the implementation of the Regional Blue Carbon Monitoring, Reporting and Verification Mechanism (MRV) Project, the executing agency, the St. Augustine Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (STACIE) at the University of the West Indies is desirous of hosting a conference aimed at sharing knowledge, disseminating key findings, and consolidating lessons learnt on mangrove conservation and MRV in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The 2026 Edition of the International Blue Carbon and Wetlands Conference follows from the 2025 conference held in Colombia and will also serve as a closing ceremony for the Regioanl Blue Carbon MRV project. It will provide a platform to showcase the outcomes of the regional project supported by the UK Blue Carbon and advance regional dialogue toward the development and implementation of a standardized MRV system for blue carbon ecosystems in the LAC region. It will also explore pathways for leveraging such a system to unlock blue carbon credit accreditation opportunities and attract climate finance, accelerating the region’s transition toward sustainable blue economy practices. Hence the theme: “Anchored in Action: Standardizing and Advancing Blue Carbon Solutions”
Convening a conference offers a timely and strategic opportunity to:
• Increase the visibility and promote uptake of Standardization of Blue Carbon MRV in the LAC region, while raising awareness of the importance of carbon in general.
• bring together stakeholders, donors, beneficiaries and practitioners to share technical and economic advancements in the field of blue carbon.
• Provide a platform for the sharing of findings and lessons learnt from the supported projects
• Advance discussions beyond MRV, focusing on next steps such as the accreditation of carbon credits and mechanisms for unlocking blue carbon finance.
Such a conference will serve as a critical milestone in promoting regional collaboration, fostering knowledge exchange, and supporting the long-term sustainability and impact of blue carbon initiatives in the LAC region.
SUB-THEMES
The following sub-themes have been developed to dive deeper into and expand the main theme:
1. Pathways to Blue Carbon Credit Accreditation in the LAC Region
2. Navigating Standards: Verra, Gold Standard, and Beyond
3. The Case for Standardization: Opportunities and Challenges in the LAC Context
4. Inclusive Decision-Making for Impact and Progress
5. Lessons from the UK Blue Carbon Fund-Supported Project
We are also issuing our Call for Posters.
Open to: General public
Registration deadline: January 2nd 2026
