Today, the Blue Carbon Action Partnership launched 'Investing in Mangroves: The Corporate Playbook', a white paper designed to guide corporations in confidently investing in nature-positive solutions that support both individual corporate climate strategies and broader global social and ecological goals.

Mangroves are among the world’s most threatened ecosystems, and the urgency for investment in their restoration and conservation is growing. While many corporations are ready to take mangrove-positive action, they often lack awareness of the investable opportunities available today. The Corporate Playbook addresses this gap by outlining clear investment pathways, navigating a complex landscape of stakeholders, and guiding how to navigate perceived risks in a rapidly evolving space—ensuring projects maintain integrity and align with the High-Quality Blue Carbon Principles and Guidance.

This guide is tailored for corporations with established climate and nature strategies, seeking actionable, high-integrity opportunities that deliver maximum value with minimal risk. It aims to catalyze corporate engagement in mangrove conservation, help manage reputational risk in sustainability claims and clarify the scale of the opportunity—mapping out entry points and supporting innovation around corporate and global goals for people, nature, and climate.

“The decreasing rate of mangrove loss in recent years is promising news, but accelerating progress requires further high-quality private-sector action. In partnership with governments, communities, and NGOs, businesses can protect and restore these critical ecosystems—while unlocking financial value. The Corporate Playbook offers practical steps for companies to invest in mangroves and help realize mangroves' full potential for climate, nature, and sustainable communities.” said Emily Kelly, Blue Carbon Lead, World Economic Forum.

To date, investment in these ecosystems has relied heavily on public and philanthropic funding. However, these sources alone are insufficient to support the scale of conservation and restoration needed to meet global targets.

"The world is demanding bold corporate leadership. Mangroves are not just an ecological lifeline—they are strategic assets for resilient, regenerative economies. They help manage risk, unlock carbon and biodiversity value, shield coasts and strengthen coastal economies that underpin global supply chains. The Corporate Playbook introduces how they can do so, through four primary avenues for action. Investing in mangroves is not just smart business—it is essential for a livable future." said Jason Carter, Blue Finance Lead, World Economic Forum.

Corporate investment has the potential to rapidly scale the pipeline of high-quality mangrove projects—especially when aligned with strategies that deliver operational value while supporting global sustainability goals. The Playbook outlines four primary avenues for engagement: sustainability credit purchasing, supply chain offtake, project development, and ancillary engagement.

The guide explores each of these pathways in depth, offering real-world case studies and examples of different stakeholders already advancing mangrove-positive initiatives—to educate, inspire, and build confidence among new entrants.

With the climate crisis projected to reduce global GDP by 18% by 2050, and the biodiversity crisis placing 55% of global GDP at risk, there is growing consensus that net-zero goals can only be achieved through nature-positive action. Investing in Mangroves: The Corporate Playbook shows that the most effective solutions—ecologically and economically—combine benefits for people, nature, and climate.

This report was supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transition (COAST) Programme, which is part of the UK Blue Planet Fund and aims to protect and enhance the marine environment and reduce poverty.