flâneur

What Is Blue Carbon and Why Does It Matter? - Sustainable Travel International

sustainabletravel.org · 1,956 words · saved by 1 readers

Though terrestrial forests typically get most of the attention, they are not the only ecosystems that possess a natural ability to fight climate change. There are three coastal ecosystems that are also highly effective at sequestering carbon dioxide: mangroves, seagrass, and salt marshes. The carbon that is captured and stored by these coastal ecosystems is known as “blue carbon.” Pound for pound, these blue carbon ecosystems can actually store up to 10 times more carbon than tropical rainforests! Blue carbon ecosystems not only prevent climate change, they also protect coastal communities from its harmful impacts, such as rising seas and flooding, and provide important habitats for marine life. Sadly, humans continually overlook the benefits of these incredible ecosystems and are destroying them at an alarming rate. It is estimated that every minute, up to three football fields of coastal habitats are being lost. Read on to learn more about these different ecosystems, including why th

Blue Carbon refers to the carbon dioxide captured and stored by the world’s ocean and coastal ecosystems. Think of it as the ocean’s version of a carbon-storing forest; but instead of trees on land, the plant life in the sea includes mangroves, seagrass, and salt marshes. Although they cover less area than forests, coastal blue carbon ecosystems are more efficient at sequestering carbon. Pound for pound, blue carbon ecosystems can absorb carbon up to 10 times faster than forests. Much of this carbon is in their soils, where it decomposes slowly, allowing blue carbon ecosystems to store…

related reading