16th October 2024
Blue carbon is carbon that is absorbed and stored in marine environments. The Wildlife Trusts, The RSOB and WWF have put together a useful report on the importance of blue carbon.
“Over the past few decades, great strides have been made
in recognising the importance of carbon storage in terrestrial
environments … but we’ve largely neglected the vast potential of
‘blue carbon’ found in our coastal and marine areas, which cover three
times the land area of the UK. Marine habitats, including seagrass
meadows, saltmarshes, and subtidal sediments like mud and sand on
the seabed, act as incredible stores of carbon.
“Currently blue carbon remains underappreciated and largely
unprotected within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and marine spatial
planning processes have held little to no regard for the significant
role our seas play in carbon storage. This, combined with ongoing
human pressures that can affect the ability of our seas to effectively
capture and store carbon, means that we are failing to make the most
of this critical natural resource. …
“Through effective planning that includes the protection of blue carbon habitats and
important areas for biodiversity, we can support climate mitigation,
protect nature and minimise the impacts of activities at sea such as
bottom-towed fishing gears and offshore development. We also need
investment in coastal blue carbon habitat restoration projects to
increase the environment’s potential to store carbon and help tackle
the climate crisis.
“Protecting these marine carbon stores matters not just ecologically
but also politically. The UK helped champion the creation and
agreement of the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity’s Global
Biodiversity Framework, which drives the 30×30 commitments to
both protect at least 30%, and to restore at least 30% of nature by
2030.” https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2024-09/2024_Blue carbon 12pp_A4_Landscape_New_Digital.pdf
Blue carbon https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/blue-carbon
The Green Tau 