Restoring ocean and coastal ecosystems to empower people and their communities

Turneffe Atoll Blue Carbon Initiative

Turneffe Atoll, the largest coral island in Belize, is home to a diverse array of wildlife, mangroves, and seagrass as well as a rich cultural heritage. Protecting this fragile blue carbon ecosystem is a priority for the Government of Belize, Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA)—a local nonprofit and co-manager of the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve—and Turneffe Atoll Trust (TAT)—which has undertaken projects emphasizing environmental advocacy, research, and conservation economics. To support these efforts, the Belize Office of the Prime Minister retained the Brightwater Collective, with our team providing nature-based solutions technical expertise.

A key aspect of this project is the generation of high-quality blue carbon credits through the conservation and restoration of mangrove habitats. To this end, we conducted a comprehensive reconnaissance of Turneffe Atoll to gather data, which we used to screen potential blue carbon and biodiversity credit project sites.

We estimated existing carbon stocks in seagrass and mangrove habitats along with the potential carbon credit yield of restoration and conservation projects. We then conducted detailed field studies in mangrove habitats across the atoll to better understand mangrove forest types, biomass, soil carbon content, and health. Finally, we refined our estimates of carbon stocks and developed project descriptions for blue carbon and biodiversity credits that could be put on the voluntary carbon market. Our team worked alongside local leaders, drawing on their knowledge to develop conservation strategies that are both sustainable and locally beneficial. We also organized workshops and educational programs to raise awareness about the importance of conservation, helping build local capacity to sustain these efforts over the long term.

As Belize’s first blue carbon project, Turneffe Atoll is setting a precedent for future conservation initiatives for blue carbon environments. The project will also provide ongoing funding for TASA, supporting long‑term protection of the atoll while advancing sustainable management and responsible tourism.