The Blue Action Fund (BAF) has launched a major funding opportunity supporting the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of mangrove ecosystems in Asia.
The Mangroves and Blue Carbon Conservation Grant aims to support projects that combine biodiversity conservation, climate action, coastal community resilience, and sustainable livelihoods. The programme also seeks to develop high-integrity blue carbon initiatives that can contribute to long-term conservation financing through credible carbon credit generation.
The funding opportunity is particularly relevant for organisations working at the intersection of marine and coastal conservation, biodiversity, climate change, blue carbon, nature-based solutions, and sustainable coastal livelihoods.
Region
Asia
Eligible project countries are:
- India
- Indonesia
- Philippines
- Vietnam
Tags
Mangrove Conservation, Blue Carbon, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Adaptation, Marine Conservation, Coastal Resilience, Nature-Based Solutions, Ecosystem Restoration, Sustainable Livelihoods, Community Conservation, Carbon Credits
Focus Areas
The call supports projects that address one or more of the following areas:
1. Mangrove Conservation and Restoration
Projects should contribute to the protection and restoration of mangrove ecosystems through activities such as:
- Establishing new protected areas
- Improving the management of existing protected areas
- Supporting Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs)
- Restoring degraded mangrove ecosystems
- Promoting sustainable use and management of mangrove resources
- Strengthening biodiversity conservation
2. Blue Carbon Development
The programme supports the development of high-integrity blue carbon initiatives linked to mangrove ecosystems.
Projects should demonstrate a credible pathway toward:
- Carbon sequestration and storage
- Carbon credit generation
- Carbon monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV)
- Financial feasibility of blue carbon activities
- Long-term climate mitigation and adaptation benefits
3. Climate Resilience and Coastal Communities
Projects should contribute to improving the resilience and livelihoods of communities that depend on coastal ecosystems.
This may include:
- Sustainable coastal livelihoods
- Community-based conservation
- Climate adaptation
- Ecosystem-based approaches to resilience
- Sustainable management of marine and coastal resources
- Equitable participation of local communities
Funding
The Blue Action Fund expects to provide grants of approximately:
€2 million to €4 million per project
The total funding envelope for the call is approximately €17 million.
Projects may be implemented for a period of up to five years.
A co-financing contribution of at least 25% of total project costs is required.
Who Can Apply?
The call is intended for national and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in eligible countries.
Applications may also be submitted by consortia of NGOs, particularly where the project requires complementary expertise.
Applicants and project partners should have relevant experience in areas such as:
- Mangrove conservation and restoration
- Marine and coastal biodiversity
- Blue carbon development
- Carbon accounting and MRV systems
- Protected area or OECM management
- Community-based conservation
- Sustainable coastal livelihoods
- Environmental and social safeguards
Organisations applying should have the institutional and technical capacity to manage and implement a large-scale, multi-year conservation project.
Key Project Requirements
Proposed projects should:
- Focus on mangrove ecosystems in one of the four eligible countries
- Cover mangrove areas of at least 1,000 hectares
- Include the establishment or improved management of protected areas (PAs) or OECMs
- Demonstrate a credible pathway toward high-integrity blue carbon credit development
- Contribute to biodiversity conservation and climate action
- Support sustainable coastal livelihoods and community resilience
- Include meaningful stakeholder engagement
- Address environmental and social safeguards
- Include appropriate approaches to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) where applicable
- Establish clear and equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms
Projects should also demonstrate how they can contribute to the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including the global ambition to effectively conserve and manage at least 30% of land and ocean areas by 2030.
Application Process
The grant programme follows a two-stage application process.
Stage 1: Competitive Application
Eligible organisations submit an initial application outlining their proposed project, conservation approach, geographic scope, expected impact, and blue carbon pathway.
Stage 2: Full Proposal
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to develop and submit a more detailed full project proposal.
Applicants should ensure that their project concept clearly demonstrates:
- The conservation importance of the target mangrove ecosystem
- The expected biodiversity and climate benefits
- The project’s potential to generate high-integrity blue carbon credits
- Community participation and benefit-sharing
- Technical feasibility
- Financial sustainability
- Long-term conservation impact
Application Deadline
15 October 2026
Applicants are encouraged to begin preparing their proposals early, particularly because of the scale of the funding available and the technical requirements related to blue carbon, carbon crediting, environmental safeguards, and community engagement.
Apply
Blue Action Fund – Funding Opportunities:
https://www.blueactionfund.org/funding-opportunities/
Blue Action Fund – Grant Programme:
https://www.blueactionfund.org/grant-programme/
Why This Opportunity Matters
Mangrove ecosystems are among the world’s most valuable coastal ecosystems. They provide critical habitat for biodiversity, protect communities from coastal hazards, support fisheries and livelihoods, and store significant amounts of carbon.
This grant offers a major opportunity for conservation organisations to combine mangrove protection and restoration with climate action and sustainable development. By linking biodiversity conservation with high-integrity blue carbon initiatives, the programme seeks to create long-term financing mechanisms that can support the protection of coastal ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
