FSD Africa Investments (FSDAi) is investing $2.5m in West Africa Blue’s blue carbon project in Sierra Leone’s Sherbro River Estuary. FSDAi’s investment will contribute to the conservation and restoration of approximately 94,000 hectares of mangrove ecosystems across 11 chiefdoms.

Working in close collaboration with local communities, the project will demonstrate the potential for blue carbon nature-based solutions to sustainably address climate change, protect biodiversity and build income diversification and economic development opportunities.

Mangrove ecosystems are powerful carbon sinks that combat climate change and build coastal resilience. Despite their promise, blue carbon projects struggle to raise private sector investment due to their complexity, extended timelines to scale and high execution risks.

In addition to significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting biodiversity, the project is expected to significantly empower the economic livelihoods of local communities. A core component of the project is the development of an innovative, equitable and transparent benefit sharing mechanism in consultation with communities and the government.