How AFD is helping protect mangroves around the world

Imagine an ecosystem capable of storing up to four times more carbon than terrestrial forests while protecting coastlines from storms, supporting exceptional biodiversity, and sustaining the livelihoods of millions of people. It is one of the world's most valuable natural allies in addressing climate change.

That ecosystem is the mangrove. Yet, according to the first global assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), one in every two mangrove ecosystems is now at risk of collapse. Losing mangroves would mean losing one of the planet's most effective natural systems for protecting coastlines, conserving biodiversity, and storing carbon. In response to this urgent challenge, AFD Group has progressively developed a strategy dedicated to blue carbon ecosystems, combining knowledge generation, international cooperation, innovative financing, and support for field projects.

A long-term strategy

This strategy first focused on generating and sharing knowledge. In 2019, the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM) launched the Mangrove Initiative to share lessons learned from ecosystem restoration projects, improve scientific knowledge, and promote approaches adapted to local contexts.

In 2022, this work gained momentum with the Varuna initiative, implemented by Expertise France in the southwestern Indian Ocean. By fostering cooperation among researchers, public authorities, civil society organizations, and local communities, the initiative helps improve the sustainable management of coastal ecosystems and supports the development of solutions tailored to local needs.

Explore AFD’s flagship initiatives to protect mangroves around the world:

AFD Group reached another milestone in 2024 with the launch of the Blue Carbon Facility, initially funded with €6 million through support from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Its objective was to help partner countries improve knowledge of coastal ecosystems, integrate them into climate and biodiversity public policies, and develop innovative financing mechanisms to support their long-term conservation.

UNOC 2025: a turning point

The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), held in Nice (France) in June 2025, marked a major turning point for this strategy.

Read also: UNOC 2025: AFD honors France's ocean commitments 

Until then, AFD Group’s initiatives had primarily focused on building knowledge, developing partnerships, and creating the necessary tools. UNOC opened a new phase: the operational rollout of the Blue Carbon Facility.

In Nice, AFD reaffirmed its commitment to blue finance that supports nature-based solutions and announced the first projects financed through the Facility, including initiatives in Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Tunisia. The objective was to demonstrate that biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, economic development, and improved living conditions for coastal communities can be advanced together.

This milestone reflects an important evolution in AFD Group’s approach. After investing in knowledge generation, international cooperation, and the design of financial instruments, the focus has shifted toward supporting the implementation of practical, scalable projects.

New tools and first projects

This expansion is also reflected in the development of operational resources. Since June 2026, FFEM has made a free online tutorial on mangrove restoration available in both French and English. The tutorial was developed in partnership with the IUCN Programme on Protected Areas and Conservation in Africa (PAPACO).

MOOC tutorial: Mangrove restoration

A methodological guide has also been produced to support project developers and improve the effectiveness of restoration initiatives. Together, these resources promote good practices and encourage approaches tailored to the ecological and socioeconomic conditions of each territory.

Mangroves Initiative: Guide for Mangrove Restoration

AFD Group’s work in Tunisia illustrates this new implementation phase. Announced during UNOC 2025, the Blue Carbon Facility’s first Mediterranean project aims to protect and restore the Posidonia seagrass meadows of the Gulf of Gabès. Supported by a €500,000 AFD grant, complemented by €1 million from FFEM and additional support from the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, the initiative entered its operational phase in 2026 with the launch of the PENELOPE project.

This complementarity between AFD, FFEM, Expertise France, and their partners reflects AFD Group’s approach: generate knowledge, develop methodologies, mobilize financing, and then support implementation through field projects.

Through the Mangrove Initiative, Varuna, and the Blue Carbon Facility, AFD Group is building an integrated approach that combines scientific knowledge, international cooperation, public policy, and innovative financing. The strategy aims to position blue carbon ecosystems as a key driver of climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and the sustainable development of coastal territories.