This month, Global Mangrove Trust (GMT) contributed to WWF Singapore’s Blue Carbon Support Programme (BCSP) and the Blue Catalyst Challenge in Singapore, an initiative focused on advancing innovation and scalable solutions for high-integrity blue carbon projects across Asia and beyond.
The programme brought together technology innovators, project developers, researchers, investors, and ecosystem leaders to explore how emerging technologies and collaborative approaches can strengthen the delivery of blue carbon projects. Discussions spanned topics including mangrove restoration, MRV systems, geospatial intelligence, carbon finance, and the practical challenges of scaling projects while maintaining environmental and social integrity.
Last week, we attended the Handover of the Ministry of Forestry’s Approval for Carbon Projects and the Inauguration of the Indonesia Forestry Carbon Hub, hosted by Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry. Our Executive Secretary, Ryan Merrill PhD, and Lead Impact Analyst, Mohamed Abdelwareth PhD, attended the event alongside our partner Yagasu (Yayasan Gajah Sumatra).
Representing GMT, our Cofounder & Executive Secretary, Dr.Ryan Merrill, participated as both a programme mentor and speaker. Drawing on lessons from our Blue Carbon Corridor programme in Indonesia, Ryan shared perspectives on the importance of moving beyond individual restoration sites towards landscape-scale approaches that integrate conservation, community livelihoods, long-term stewardship, and sustainable finance.
A recurring theme throughout the programme was that scaling blue carbon requires more than technical innovation alone. Robust science, credible monitoring systems, enabling policy environments, practical implementation models, and collaboration across sectors all play an essential role in building projects that can deliver lasting climate, biodiversity, and community outcomes.
Programmes such as BCSP provide an important platform for exchanging practical experience between developers, researchers, technology providers, and investors. As blue carbon markets continue to evolve across the region, these conversations help strengthen the tools, partnerships, and knowledge needed to support the next generation of high-integrity projects.
We thank WWF Singapore, Hatch Blue, the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), and all participants for convening a valuable programme and look forward to continuing these conversations as the blue carbon sector continues to mature.
