This training module provides participants with an introduction to the concept of blue carbon, or the carbon stored and sequestered by coastal marine habitats such as seagrass beds, mangroves, and tidal saltmarshes.

The purpose of the training is to assist Commonwealth country officials in developing a better understanding of blue carbon ecosystems and their importance in mitigating and adapting to climate change. It is designed with a specific focus on Commonwealth countries, and assess opportunities for improved management through restoration and conservation of blue carbon ecosystems and their potential for inclusion within Nationally Determined Contributions as a means for countries to meet United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) commitments.

Modules:
1. Overview of blue carbon ecosystems, ecosystem service and carbon storage values, and threats.
2. Blue carbon within international policy and forest carbon markets
3. Introduction to the process of Measuring, Reporting and Verifying GHG emissions reductions and removals and inventory development
4. Blue carbon in practice

This self-paced training course is developed by the Commonwealth Secretariat for Commonwealth government officials and citizens with an interest to:

• Learn why coral reef mapping is important and how geospatial technologies can be used to help
• Get hands on experience with the Allen Coral Atlas, REMAP, and QGIS
• Understand the benefits and limitations of tools and techniques currently available for coral reef mapping

Please note that the ‘Coral Reef Mapping for Technicians’ course is aimed at those who have some prior GIS knowledge. If you have not used GIS in the past, please enrol for the ‘Coral Reef Mapping for Managers’ course. The course will take between 1 – 2 hours to complete and a certificate will be generated once you have successfully completed the course.