SEPTEMBER 19, 2025

Top 10 UNESCO sites storing the most blue carbon

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Blue carbon lives in mangroves, seagrass and salt marshes. UNESCO sites hold about 1.4 billion tonnes of carbon under water and soil.

What is blue carbon?

Blue carbon is stored in roots and soils for centuries. If destroyed, it escapes back into the air and heats the planet faster.

The need to save blue carbon

The top 10 UNESCO blue carbon sites act as nature’s carbon vaults, storing huge amounts of carbon and helping protect the planet’s climate.

Carbon stored: 502 million tonnes

1. Great Barrier Reef (Australia)

Carbon stored: 400 million tonnes

2. Everglades National Park (US)

Carbon stored: 112 million tonnes

3. Banc d’Arguin National Park (Mauritania)

Carbon stored: 108 million tonnes

4. The Sundarbans (Bangladesh)

Carbon stored: 60 million tonnes

5. Sundarbans National Park (India)

Carbon stored: 49 million tonnes

6. Sian Ka'an (Mexico)

Carbon stored: 45 million tonnes

7. Shark Bay, Western Australia

Carbon stored: 41 million tonnes

8. Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture (Spain)

Carbon stored: 17 million tonnes

9. Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino (Mexico)

Carbon stored: 11 million tonnes

10. Wadden Sea (Germany)

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