Maharashtra blue carbon economy proposal: Mangrove carbon credits for climate finance and conservation

Environmental groups in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region have proposed a blue-carbon credit system that would let Maharashtra generate revenue from mangroves, wetlands, and mudflats. The plan, discussed at a NatConnect Foundation roundtable, would sell certified carbon credits to high-emission industries like cement, aviation, and shipping. Revenue would fund mangrove conservation, wetland restoration, flood mitigation, and other climate resilience projects. The proposal calls for a Flamingo Blue Carbon Urban Complex across the MMR. It argues that coastal ecosystems should be treated as climate assets, not vacant land for development. The state government is being urged to notify and protect wetlands, restore tidal ecosystems, and formally recognize blue-carbon habitats as strategic resources. The declaration also pushes for climate-sensitive infrastructure in redevelopment projects, including rainwater harvesting, rooftop solar, and low-carbon urban planning. The article highlights a growing push in India to monetize natural carbon sinks through verified carbon credits. If implemented, Maharashtra could become a test case for blue-carbon finance in urban coastal regions. The key question is whether the state will move from proposal to policy, and how the carbon credits will be verified and traded.