Carbon Growth Partners CEO discusses community benefits of blue carbon projects

Rich Gilmore, CEO of Carbon Growth Partners, stated that for most communities involved in blue carbon projects, the climate outcome is less important than other benefits. He argued that local communities protect mangroves for reasons such as food security, hurricane protection, and fishery support. Gilmore described the carbon market as a financing mechanism for these co-benefits, rather than the primary motivation for community engagement. He cited the BlueMX project in Mexico, where mangrove restoration led to a tripling of shrimp and crab catch rates, improving local livelihoods.