Blue Carbon Protection Act

The Blue Carbon Protection Act establishes a federal program to conserve and restore coastal ecosystems (like mangroves, marshes, and seagrasses) that store carbon long-term, directly affecting these habitats and communities relying on them for flood protection and fisheries. It creates a database of carbon stocks, explores market-based financing like blue carbon credits, and funds a $300 million grant program to protect or restore 1.5 million acres of these ecosystems over 10 years, prioritizing projects benefiting vulnerable communities. The bill designates "blue carbon areas of significance" where federal projects must avoid harming carbon storage, requiring agencies to seek alternatives or implement offsets if impacts occur. It mandates annual reporting on restored acres and carbon storage, with $16 million annually authorized for the program’s implementation.