Experts propose 'carbon bank' to monetise Maharashtra's ecological wealth

Mumbai: Establishing a dedicated 'Maharashtra Carbon Bank' built on the state's natural ecological assets could create a new framework for monetising ecological wealth while strengthening climate resilience, experts suggested here on Sunday.

Speaking at the Bamboo Economy & Sustainability Summit 2026, B N Kumar, director of NatConnect Foundation, proposed forming a 'Green-Blue Carbon Coalition' to bring bamboo, mangroves, wetlands, and forests under a unified scientific system for carbon measurement, certification, and credit generation.

The coalition would identify and map carbon-rich natural assets, quantify their carbon stocks and sequestration potential, verify the data through credible scientific protocols and create a pipeline of certified carbon assets that could participate in emerging carbon markets, he said while presenting the concept at the summit.


Kumar said that the idea was to move beyond viewing forests, wetlands, mangroves and bamboo merely as ecological resources and recognise their economic value as climate assets.

The proposed carbon bank could also help channel carbon market revenues towards conservation, restoration and local communities, he said.

The initiative comes as India develops its domestic carbon market under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme.

Kumar said Maharashtra, with its extensive mangroves, wetlands, bamboo resources and green cover, could explore an integrated model, linking nature conservation with the emerging carbon economy.

The Green-Blue Carbon Coalition could provide the institutional bridge between nature, science, finance and climate action, he said.