21 Environmental Vida Manglar Blue Carbon Project VCS 2290 Córdoba, Colombia Retention: Mangrove Preservation Partner: Conservation International The Vida Manglar Blue Carbon Project protects the best-preserved mangroves in the Colombian Caribbean and provides cost-effective solutions to mitigating climate change. It also provides numerous benefits for coastal communities and biodiversity including protecting critically endangered species such as manatees, otters and needle crocodiles. The Cispatá marine protected area is home to the traditional village of San Antero, reliant on the natural resources provided by the mangrove ecosystems for their livelihood. The Vida Manglar project pioneered a new approach to properly account for carbon stored below the water, accounting for up to 60% of the total carbon stored in these ecosystems, increasing the accuracy of the carbon value associated with protecting and restoring wetland ecosystems. Photo credit: ©Daniel Uribe