of Columbia, and the United States Territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands. (8) United States The term United States means the several States, the District of Columbia, and the United States Territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands. I Marine and Coastal Blue Carbon 101. Blue Carbon Program (a) Establishment The Administrator shall establish and maintain a Blue Carbon Program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the purposes of furthering conservation objectives for fish and wildlife habitat conservation and restoration and coastal resilience including the development of ways to incorporate ecosystem services from carbon storage into existing domestic and international policies, programs, and activities. (b) Additional authority In conducting the Program, the Administrator may enter into and perform such contracts, leases, grants, or cooperative agreements as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subtitle on such terms as Administrator considers appropriate. (c) Consultation The Administrator shall coordinate activities carried out under this section with the Assistant Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Assistant Administrator of the National Ocean Service. (d) Activities The Administrator shall lead the development and coordination of the strategic plan described in section 106(e) and conduct the following activities: (1) Collaborate with Federal agencies, the interagency working group, State agencies, Tribes, and non-governmental organizations on research, restoration, and protection efforts relating to blue carbon ecosystems. (2) Develop a database of blue carbon stocks and fluxes in the United States. (3) Assist in exploration of the potential for a market for carbon credits for restoration initiatives, including research and development of protocols.