Cross-Border, Nature Based Market Solutions to Protect Blue Carbon Coastal Ecosystems in the Californias

March 2022

California’s legislation goes a step further by already having a law that addresses climate change and undertakes climate change mitigation actions, such as the protection of forestry and coastal and marine ecosystems. Besides, local legislation addresses one very important issue that Federal legislation does not: zoning. Even though federal legislation requires prior federal approval for any change of forestry land use and for coastal and marine ecosystems, it is the local jurisdiction that addresses zoning plans and urban development plans and that regulates what happens in land adjacent to coastal and marine ecosystems.

V. What funding mechanisms exist through carbon markets to catalyze cross-border conservation for coastal wetlands and adjoining landscapes in the Baja California peninsula?

Isla San José, municipio La Paz, B.C.S. The network of channels within the mangrove forest of Isla San José is home to many species. Photo: Thor Morales

As highlighted by the California Cap-and-Trade Program, the potential exists for the sale of carbon credit offsets, although as mentioned, no such compliance-based program yet exists for blue carbon—only voluntary ones. Still, with a recent emphasis on market mechanisms, focused on nature-based solutions to help countries meet their net zero commitments under the Paris Agreement, more attention is now being paid to the potential role that blue carbon resources may

Finally, we must keep in mind a valuable concept that the Mexican legislation provides, in which private Interests shall never supersede the public interest. Under this concept, anyone can challenge any law, regulation or governmental action that may affect the public interest for the benefit of the private interest. All environmental laws and regulations, both Federal and state are based on this principle.

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