The project aims to plant more than 775,000 mangrove trees, create 1,200 local jobs, and generate 300,000 marine biodiversity credits to support long-term conservation and monitoring over the next ten years. By combining community-based restoration with advanced remote sensing technology, the project is setting a new standard for scalable, data-driven ecosystem recovery.
The Challenge
Mangroves play a critical role in storing carbon, protecting coastlines from extreme weather, and supporting marine biodiversity. Given the region’s complex natural conditions, which limit the effectiveness of traditional GIS techniques, new solutions had to be explored.
To overcome these limitations, Seatrees partnered with Ocean Ledger to explore how applied geospatial insights could enhance monitoring efforts. Specifically, the partnership sought to integrate remote sensing analytics into Seatrees’ biodiversity credit methodology [more information here] to provide a complementary lens to field data and establish a standardized baseline to cost-effectively monitor all the sites.
How It Was Done
Seatrees and COBEC led on-the-ground coordination and worked closely with local communities to identify priority planting zones and align efforts with regional conservation goals. Their team developed a biodiversity credit methodology and consulted Ocean Ledger on how remote sensing for natural capital indicators can be leveraged to complement finer-scale field data. Ocean Ledger conducted this work using satellite-based remote sensing, which played a key role in assessing site conditions and establishing ecological baselines before planting began.
Between March and July 2024, Ocean Ledger analyzed high-resolution (3-meter) satellite imagery spanning 600 square kilometers. Their machine learning models, trained on reference data including mangrove extents, LiDAR-derived canopy height, and biomass measurements, produced detailed estimates of vegetation structure across the landscape. This dual approach, merging community insight with landscape-scale data, enabled efficient site selection and restoration planning.
Impact and Findings
The partnership has already delivered measurable environmental and social outcomes. Local villagers have been trained and employed to manage nurseries, collect mangrove propagules, plant trees, and monitor forest growth which strengthens both ecological literacy and economic resilience. Credits have also been issued with the overall pool of credits designed to cover the cost of restoration and long-term monitoring.
Ocean Ledger statistically validated their remote sensing inputs against the equivalent field data measurements and found significant correlations between AGB (above-ground biomass) and canopy height. These indicators can therefore be reliably updated with satellite imagery and align with the biodiversity method established by Seatrees and their local partners.
Restored mangrove habitats are helping protect coastal communities from storm surges and rising sea levels, while simultaneously supporting the recovery of nearby fisheries. Environmentally, the project also makes a significant contribution to climate mitigation. Every 30 mangrove trees planted are expected to sequester approximately nine tons of CO₂ over a 25-year lifespan.
The collaboration represents a scalable approach to analyze ecosystems holistically with complementary sources of information. The project also provided the basis for a mangrove condition methodology that is currently in development with Accounting for Nature, a global NGO that provides science-based verification of natural capital accounting.
About Seatrees
Seatrees is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that restores and protects coastal ecosystems around the world to reverse climate change, restore biodiversity, and support local communities. Seatrees uses a science-based approach to regenerate coral reefs, kelp forests, mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, shellfish reefs, and coastal watersheds. Seatrees projects support local community restoration efforts and provide tangible ways for individuals and brands to create a more resilient planet for future generations. To learn more about Seatrees, visit seatrees.org.
