The Delta Blue Carbon-1 (DBC-1) project https://deltabluecarbon.com/ in Sindh has set a transformative precedent for Pakistan by successfully entering the global carbon credit market. The Sindh government has sold approximately three million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent carbon credits, earning a significant $40 million in revenue.
This achievement demonstrates the potential of nature-based solutions (NBS) as a dual mechanism for climate mitigation and economic development. Mangroves act as vital carbon sinks, absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere while providing essential ecosystem services like coastal protection and biodiversity conservation. The project’s success is amplified by its certification under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Climate, Community, and Biodiversity Standards (CCB), ensuring adherence to international benchmarks.
The Delta Blue Carbon-1 (DBC-1) project is an exemplary public-private partnership between the Sindh Forest Department and Merlin’s Wood Private Limited. This collaboration has effectively demonstrated how financial and ecological objectives can align. Merlin’s Wood covered the upfront costs for monitoring, verification, and validation, ensuring the project met stringent international standards for carbon credit certification. The Sindh government secured 40% of the revenue, amounting to approximately $14.747 million.
While this sum may seem modest compared to global carbon market transactions, it is a landmark achievement for Pakistan, a country facing acute climate vulnerabilities and financial constraints. The project has already restored over 100,000 hectares of mangroves and aims to expand this to 225,000 hectares by 2030. This restoration effort is pivotal, as mangroves—often called “blue carbon” ecosystems—are highly efficient carbon sinks, sequestering substantial amounts of CO₂ while providing critical habitats for biodiversity and protecting coastal areas from erosion and flooding.