Isometric has certified a protocol for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) via Mangrove Restoration. The protocol sets out requirements and procedures for projects that remove carbon by re-establishing or enabling the recovery of mangrove ecosystems where they have been degraded or lost.
Certification follows a comprehensive public consultation that included feedback from buyers, suppliers, and leading academics with expertise in ecology, biogeochemistry, and marine science. Full details on the evolution of the protocol and how Isometric addressed feedback from the consultation are available in the changelog and public consultation summary.
Mangroves are among the world’s most effective forest ecosystems for removing carbon dioxide. Globally, they store up to 11.7 billion tonnes of carbon. Mangrove restoration includes activities such as replanting, restoring the conditions that enable growth—such as improving water quality—and enhancing regeneration by managing pests and invasive species. These activities restore the natural ability of mangroves to remove carbon dioxide as they grow, storing it both in their biomass and in the soil.
Beyond carbon removal, mangrove restoration can provide additional benefits, including protecting coastlines from extreme weather, creating nursery habitats for native species, improving water quality, supporting biodiversity, and creating sustainable employment for local communities.
The Mangrove Restoration Protocol applies a scientifically rigorous approach to monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV). To quantify the carbon stored in mangrove biomass, the protocol allows suppliers to combine advanced remote sensing technologies—such as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) or satellite-based monitoring—with detailed field measurements. To quantify the carbon stored in soils, the protocol requires direct measurement. Together, these requirements ensure robust and reliable carbon accounting.
Dr. Ando Rabearisoa, Postdoctoral Scholar, Berkeley Carbon Trading Project, University of California, Berkeley, said: “This protocol significantly improves how project carbon benefits are estimated over other standards. By using dynamic baselines with control pixels and allowing time‑for‑space substitution, it can better quantify the climate impact of a project over time."
This protocol was developed in line with the Isometric Standard, through collaboration between Isometric’s in-house Science Team and reviewers from Isometric’s independent Science Network of more than 400 academic experts and practitioners.
