States are stepping up to address the climate crisis by setting greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets and related policies, including strategies to reduce emissions and enhance carbon storage on natural and working lands. These natural and working lands strategies are an opportunity to integrate protection and restoration of coastal “blue carbon” ecosystems into state climate mitigation planning. However, states confront challenges related to quantifying present blue carbon stocks and recent sequestration rates, as well as integrating sea level rise planning into future projections and management scenarios. This session will draw upon experiences of experts who have engaged in state natural and working lands strategies in Louisiana, Oregon, California and North Carolina. Topics to be presented and explored include Louisiana’s efforts to develop a blue carbon baseline and estimate of the carbon impact of restoration and risk reduction efforts implemented through the state’s 2017 Coastal Master Plan; the development of a GHG inventory for Oregon’s coastal wetlands and strategies for protecting and enhancing coastal blue carbon habitats through the state’s natural and working lands proposal; insights into how state agencies can incorporate coastal wetlands in forward-looking scenarios to meet GHG reduction targets using California and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta as a model; and North Carolina’s efforts to develop a blue carbon inventory for its extensive submerged aquatic vegetation habitats to be incorporated into the state GHG Inventory and to help guide coastal habitat protection strategies. These presentations will be followed by a panel discussion focusing on common challenges, best practices, and lessons learned.