The value of ecosystem services in global marine kelp forests

Nature Communications, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 14(1)

Опубликована: Апрель 18, 2023

Abstract While marine kelp forests have provided valuable ecosystem services for millennia, the global ecological and economic value of those is largely unresolved. Kelp are diminishing in many regions worldwide, efforts to manage these ecosystems hindered without accurate estimates that provide human societies. Here, we present a estimate potential three key - fisheries production, nutrient cycling, carbon removal by six major forest forming genera ( Ecklonia, Laminaria, Lessonia, Macrocystis, Nereocystis , Saccharina ). Each creates between $64,400 $147,100/hectare each year. Collectively, they generate $465 $562 billion/year with an average $500 billion. These values primarily driven production (mean $29,900, 904 Kg/Ha/year) nitrogen ($73,800, 657 Kg N/Ha/year), though also estimated sequester 4.91 megatons from atmosphere/year highlighting their as blue systems climate change mitigation. findings highlight society will facilitate better informed management conservation decisions.

Язык: Английский

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Potential role of seaweeds in climate change mitigation

The Science of The Total Environment, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 885, С. 163699 - 163699

Опубликована: Май 4, 2023

Seaweed (macroalgae) has attracted attention globally given its potential for climate change mitigation. A topical and contentious question is: Can seaweeds' contribution to mitigation be enhanced at meaningful scales? Here, we provide an overview of the pressing research needs surrounding role seaweed in current scientific consensus via eight key challenges. There are four categories where been suggested used mitigation: 1) protecting restoring wild forests with co-benefits; 2) expanding sustainable nearshore aquaculture 3) offsetting industrial CO2 emissions using products emission abatement; 4) sinking into deep sea sequester CO2. Uncertainties remain about quantification net impact carbon export from restoration farming sites on atmospheric Evidence suggests that contributes storage sediments below farm sites, but how scalable is this process? Products aquaculture, such as livestock methane-reducing Asparagopsis or low food resources show promise mitigation, yet footprint abatement remains unquantified most products. Similarly, purposely cultivating then biomass open ocean raises ecological concerns concept poorly constrained. Improving tracing sinks a critical step accounting. Despite accounting uncertainties, provides many other ecosystem services justify conservation uptake will contribute United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However, caution verified associated sustainability thresholds needed before large-scale investment projects.

Язык: Английский

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Carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation using macroalgae: a state of knowledge review

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 98(6), С. 1945 - 1971

Опубликована: Июль 12, 2023

The conservation, restoration, and improved management of terrestrial forests significantly contributes to mitigate climate change its impacts, as well providing numerous co-benefits. pressing need reduce emissions increase carbon removal from the atmosphere is now also leading development natural solutions in ocean. Interest sequestration potential underwater macroalgal growing rapidly among policy, corporate sectors. Yet, our understanding whether can lead tangible mitigation remains severely limited, hampering their inclusion international policy or finance frameworks. Here, we examine results over 180 publications synthesise evidence regarding forest potential. We show that research efforts on macroalgae are heavily skewed towards particulate organic (POC) pathways (77% data publications), fixation most studied flux (55%). Fluxes directly (e.g. export burial marine sediments) remain poorly resolved, likely hindering regional country-level assessments potential, which only available 17 150 countries where occur. To solve this issue, present a framework categorize coastlines according Finally, review multiple avenues through translate into capacity, largely depends interventions above baseline avoid further emissions. find restoration afforestation potentially order 10's Tg C globally. Although lower than current estimates value all habitats (61-268 year-1 ), it suggests could add total coastal blue ecosystems, offer valuable opportunities polar temperate areas currently low. Operationalizing will necessitate models reliably estimate proportion production sequestered, improvements fingerprinting techniques, rethinking accounting methodologies. ocean provides major adapt change, largest vegetated habitat Earth should not be ignored simply because does fit existing

Язык: Английский

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Global floating kelp forests have limited protection despite intensifying marine heatwave threats

Nature Communications, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 16(1)

Опубликована: Апрель 3, 2025

Язык: Английский

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The Kelp Forest Challenge: A collaborative global movement to protect and restore 4 million hectares of kelp forests

Journal of Applied Phycology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 36(2), С. 951 - 964

Опубликована: Окт. 9, 2023

Abstract Marine kelp forests cover 1/3 of our world's coastlines, are heralded as a nature-based solution to address socio-environmental issues, connect hundreds millions people with the ocean, and support rich web biodiversity throughout oceans. But they increasingly threatened some areas reporting over 90% declines in forest living memory. Despite their importance threats face, entirely absent from international conservation dialogue. No laws, policies, or targets focus on very few countries consider them national policy. The Kelp Forest Challenge addresses that gap. Together 252 experts, professionals, citizens 25 countries, was developed grassroots vision what world can achieve for conservation. It is global call restore 1 million protect 3 hectares by 2040. This monumental challenge, will require coordination across multiple levels society mobilization immense resources. Pledges may therefore include area protection restoration, enabling pledges which assist (funding, equipment, professional expertise, capacity building), awareness-based increase awareness education about forests. Correspondingly, participants be government, scientific institutions, private sector, NGOs, community groups, individuals. challenge beginning 17-year mission save anyone any organisation invited participate.

Язык: Английский

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Seaweed blue carbon: Ready? Or Not?

Marine Policy, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 155, С. 105747 - 105747

Опубликована: Июль 20, 2023

Язык: Английский

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Towards a framework for mangrove restoration and conservation in Nigeria

Regional Studies in Marine Science, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 66, С. 103154 - 103154

Опубликована: Авг. 12, 2023

Mangroves are significant sinks for organic carbon, and there is increased interest to restoring conserving them greenhouse gas emissions mitigation. However, mangrove ecosystems significantly threatened by anthropogenic factors, resulting in loss at an unprecedented rate scale. In contrast the global trend of reducing loss, mangroves Niger Delta Nigeria, hub Africa's largest expanse mangroves, being degraded, primarily human activities. This will continuously limit capacity region contribute to, achieve carbon neutrality, create decent jobs local population, provide ecosystem goods services, enhance sustainable development goals. research initiates a conceptual framework inspire drive restoration conservation Delta, other regions where its early stages due lack enabling policies Leveraging recently launched Principles Ecosystem Restoration guide United Nations Decade (2021–2030), we discussed broadly contextual preconditions adaptive management. To no-net-loss targets conservation, integrative knowledge policy-driven restoration, co-management bespoke community science regimes, economic energy diversification, effective oil spill management contingency plan outlined as key enablers.

Язык: Английский

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Sea otter recovery buffers century-scale declines in California kelp forests

PLOS Climate, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 3(1), С. e0000290 - e0000290

Опубликована: Янв. 18, 2024

The status of kelp forests and their vulnerability to climate change are global significance. As the foundation for productive extensive ecosystems, understanding long-term forest trends is critical coastal ecosystem management, resiliency, restoration programs. In this study, we curate historical US government canopy inventories, develop methods compare them with contemporary surveys, use a machine learning framework evaluate rank drivers California over last century. Historical surveys documented Macrocystis Nereocystis covered approximately 120.4 km 2 in 1910–1912, which only slightly above 2014–2016 (112.0 ). These statewide comparisons, however, mask dramatic regional changes increases Central (+57.6%, +19.7 ) losses along Northern (-63.0%, -8.1 ), Southern (-52.1%, -18.3 mainland coastlines. Random Forest models sea otter ( Enhydra lutris nereis population density as primary driver changes, benthic substrate, extreme heat, high annual variation productivity also significant. This century-scale perspective identifies dramatically different outcomes California’s forests, providing blueprint nature-based solutions that enhance resilience change.

Язык: Английский

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Marine protected areas can be useful but are not a silver bullet for kelp conservation

Journal of Phycology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 60(2), С. 203 - 213

Опубликована: Март 28, 2024

Abstract Kelp forests are among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth, but they increasingly being degraded and lost due to a range of human‐related stressors, leading recent calls for their improved management conservation. One primary tools conserve marine species biodiversity is establishment protected areas (MPAs). International commitments protect 30% world's gaining momentum, offering promising avenue secure kelp into Anthropocene. However, clear understanding efficacy MPAs conserving in changing ocean lacking. In this perspective, we question whether strengthened global protection will create meaningful conservation outcomes forests. We explore benefits under suite different focusing empirical evidence from show that can be effective against some drivers loss (e.g., overgrazing, harvesting), particularly when maintained long‐term enforced as no‐take areas. There also reduce impacts climate change through building resilience multi‐stressor situations. often fail provide warming, heatwaves, coastal darkening, pollution, which have emerged dominant forest globally. Although well‐enforced should remain an important tool forests, successful require implementing additional solutions target these accelerating threats.

Язык: Английский

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A roadmap to coastal and marine ecological restoration in Australia

Environmental Science & Policy, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 159, С. 103808 - 103808

Опубликована: Июнь 24, 2024

Язык: Английский

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