Symbiosis Coalition Expands Carbon Removal with Mangrove-Based Blue Carbon Projects

The Symbiosis Coalition has announced a second request for proposals (RFP) for high-quality carbon removals, expanding its interest beyond reforestation and agroforestry into mangrove projects.

By including mangrove initiatives, this RFP marks the first time the Symbiosis Coalition will venture into supporting blue carbon projects.

Established as a more than 20M tonne advance market commitment, the Symbiosis Coalition is investing in the next generation of nature-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects by 2030.

Coalition members include prominent global brands such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, McKinsey, Salesforce, Bain & Company, and REI Co-op.

Through this second RFP, Symbiosis aims for contracted projects that represent best-in-class examples of restoration, aligned with the latest science and standards.

The projects contracted through Symbiosis will meet its Quality Criteria and be ready to enter into a commercial offtake agreement. The Coalition also intends to pilot a pre-purchase track for up to 1 million tonnes of credits from mangrove projects.

To qualify for this call, reforestation, agroforestry, and mangrove projects need to be located in countries below the US State Department risk level 4; have a well-established pilot and eligible activity type (no afforestation); and use an ICVCM-approved standard and methodology for reforestation and agroforestry or an ICVCM-approved standard for mangroves.

Additionally, projects should offer at least 100,000 tonnes for Symbiosis contracts over a 10-year period and use a dynamic baseline, where the Coalition may consider making exceptions for mangroves, evaluating projects on a case-by-case basis.

Projects need to submit documentation following the guidelines in the Readiness Checklist.

Symbiosis highlights that it will prioritize project developers with demonstrated experience in implementing a restoration and/or carbon project, as well as those with sufficient capitalization or in advanced stages of financing and projects that have the ability to deliver more than 500,000 tonnes over 10 years.

This second RFP follows the initial one launched in December 2024, which has announced two projects so far, including Mombak's degraded pastureland reforestation in the Brazilian Amazon and Living Carbon's reforestation of former mine and agricultural lands in the United States.

Looking ahead, Symbiosis will continue advancing projects identified in its first RFP, with more offtakes to be announced this year.