Blue Earth Summit

At this year’s Blue Earth Summit, WILDCOAST brought the power of coastal conservation to the stage, showcasing how local communities, natural climate solutions, and international collaboration are shaping a more resilient planet.

Founded by Serge Dedina, Ph.D. in 2000, WILDCOAST is an international team working across the United States and Mexico to conserve coastal and marine ecosystems and tackle climate change through nature-based solutions. Today, they help protect and restore over 38 million acres of critical ocean and coastal wilderness, from mangrove forests and coral reefs to gray whale breeding lagoons.

Check out WILDCOAST and their incredible work: https://wildcoast.org/

 

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A Global Movement Rooted in Local Action

In their session, Blue Carbon and Community-based Coastal Rewilding: The Case of Mexico, Serge Dedina, Ph.D. joined a panel of remarkable environmental leaders — Kate Williams CEO of 1% for the Planet, Amanda Bronkhorst Founder and CEO of JUST ONE Tree and WILDCOAST’s blue carbon team, including Monica Franco, Celeste Ortega, and Paula Tussie.

Together, they explored the power of blue carbon ecosystems (mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes) that capture and store vast amounts of carbon while supporting biodiversity and coastal livelihoods. The conversation offered a rare look into what it takes to restore and rewild globally significant ecosystems in collaboration with coastal communities.

From training local women to restore mangrove forests in Laguna San Ignacio, to protecting 22 miles of critical sea turtle nesting coastline in Oaxaca where over 72 million sea turtle eggs have hatched since 2017, WILDCOAST’s approach blends science, community, and culture into real-world climate impact.

 

Women Leading the Blue Carbon Revolution

A key theme of the discussion was the role of women in coastal restoration. WILDCOAST’s community-based model empowers women across five regions of Mexico to lead mangrove conservation and restoration projects, creating local jobs and fostering long-term stewardship of these vital ecosystems.

By conserving and restoring over 32,000 acres of mangrove forests (storing 13 million tons of carbon) WILDCOAST is proving that climate action can be both equitable and regenerative.

 

Collaboration Across the Blue Earth Network

The panel also represented the strength of the 1% for the Planet community, uniting two member organisations (WILDCOAST and JUST ONE Tree) whose shared mission is to harness the power of collaboration to accelerate environmental restoration. Together, they offered actionable insights on how businesses and philanthropists can directly support conservation efforts through natural climate solutions.

 

Looking Ahead: The WILDCOAST Podcast

Following their appearance at the Summit, we’re thrilled to be releasing a new episode of the Blue Earth Podcast featuring Dr Serge Dedina, diving deeper into his journey from California lifeguard to global conservation leader.

Serge’s passion for the ocean, and his decades of impact across California and Mexico, have earned him widespread recognition, from the California Coastal Commission’s Coastal Hero Award to the Surf Industry’s Environmental Award. His story is a testament to what’s possible when bold ideas meet community action.

 

About WILDCOAST

WILDCOAST conserves coastal and marine ecosystems and addresses climate change through natural solutions. Their work includes:

• Protecting 545,000+ acres of marine protected areas in California.

• Restoring 271 acres of mangroves and planting 178,000 seedlings in Mexico.

• Safeguarding 51,929 acres of desert wilderness and 39.5 miles of coastline from development in Baja California.

• Stopping over 300,000 lbs of trash from entering marine ecosystems.

Learn more at wildcoast.org.