The BlueCARES Project

The Comprehensive Assessment and Conservation of Blue Carbon Ecosystems and their Services in the Coral Triangle (BlueCARES) is a research project funded by the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS), a program jointly established by JST (Japan Science and Technology Agency) and JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).

BlueCARES is a trilateral joint project between the countries of Japan, Philippines and Indonesia having involved a number of research institutions from these countries. The project was initially approved for 5 years in April 2017, but was extended until March 2023.

JAPAN

Project Leader: Prof. Nadaoka Kazuo


Research Institutions in Japan

  • Tokyo Institute of Technology

  • The University of Tokyo

  • Hokkaido University

  • Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute

  • Nagoya University

  • Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS)

  • Kobe University

  • Japan Space Systems

  • Hachinohe Institute of Technology

  • Kyoto University

  • The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

  • Ocean Policy Research Institute of The Sasakawa Peace Foundation

  • Association for Shore Environment Creation (NPO)

PHILIPPINES

Project Leader: Dr. Rene Rollon


Research Institutions in the Philippines

  • University of the Philippines - Diliman

  • Aklan State University

  • University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College

  • Mindanao State University - Naawan


INDONESIA

Project Leader: Dr. Rudi Alek Wahyudin


Research Institutions in Indonesia

  • Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP)


a. Agency for Marine Affairs and Fisheries Research and Development (BRSDM)


b. Research Center for Marine and Fisheries Socio-economics (SOSEK)

  • Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB)



Goals & Objectives

Elucidation of Blue Carbon Dynamics & Assessment of Ecosystem Services based on New Methodologies and Framework

Coastal-marine ecosystems play an important role in carbon sequestration and storage thus, also known as “Blue Carbon” ecosystems. This project aims to evaluate and predict the functions and dynamics of these blue carbon ecosystems for the capture and sequestration of carbon. Innovative and integrated monitoring/modeling systems are being developed and comprehensive assessments for these ecosystems are being carried out. Furthermore, a “Core-and-Network” system has been built for sustainable nation-wide network-based monitoring and associated human resource development to which this is now known as the “Blue Carbon Network” (BCnet).

Establish and Propose the “Blue Carbon Strategy” and Develop a Framework for Its Implementation

BlueCARES aims to establish conservation actions through the development of a Blue Carbon Strategy. The Blue Carbon Strategy is based on the comprehensive assessment of blue carbon ecosystem services through nation-wide monitoring and change detection. These assessments, together with socioeconomic data, will be used by predictive models to select the best policy options in properly conserving blue carbon.

“BlueCARES project aims to conserve the blue carbon ecosystems so they can contribute to mitigating the adverse effects of climate change in the context of sustainable development”

- Susumu Ito, JICA Chief Representative in the Philippines

Photos from IAmBlueCECAM, Janny Sumilla (MSU-Naawan) & Kayziel Martinez (BlueCARES)