Difference between revisions of "Blue Carbon"

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Blue Carbon is about mitigating [[Climate Change|climate change]] through coastal [[Ecosystem-Based Management|ecosystem management]].
 
Blue Carbon is about mitigating [[Climate Change|climate change]] through coastal [[Ecosystem-Based Management|ecosystem management]].
 
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Healthy coastal habitat is not only important for seafood and recreation, it also plays an important role in moderating climate change. Salt marshes, [[Mangroves|mangroves]], and seagrass beds absorb large quantities of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it, thus decreasing the effects of global warming. These types of habitat are known as carbon sinks and contain large stores of carbon accumulated over hundreds to thousands of years.
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Healthy coastal habitat is not only important for seafood and recreation, it also plays an important role in moderating climate change. Salt marshes, [[Mangroves|mangroves]], and [http://bangordailynews.com/2015/04/13/the-point/maine-has-a-disappearing-carbon-sink-for-10000-cars-in-the-ocean/ seagrass beds] absorb large quantities of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it, thus decreasing the effects of global warming. These types of habitat are known as carbon sinks and contain large stores of carbon accumulated over hundreds to thousands of years.
 
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Coastal blue carbon is the carbon captured by living coastal and marine organisms and stored in coastal ecosystems. Salt marshes, mangroves, and seagrass beds play two important roles:
 
Coastal blue carbon is the carbon captured by living coastal and marine organisms and stored in coastal ecosystems. Salt marshes, mangroves, and seagrass beds play two important roles:
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:*'''Carbon storage'''—the long-term confinement of carbon in plant materials or sediment, measured as a total weight of carbon stored
 
:*'''Carbon storage'''—the long-term confinement of carbon in plant materials or sediment, measured as a total weight of carbon stored
 
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==Why is it Important?==
 
==Why is it Important?==
 
[[File:Carbonstorage.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Carbon Storage Abilities of Different Habitat Types (NOAA - National Marine Fisheries Service)]]
 
[[File:Carbonstorage.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Carbon Storage Abilities of Different Habitat Types (NOAA - National Marine Fisheries Service)]]

Revision as of 10:08, 14 April 2015

What is Blue Carbon?

Blue Carbon is about mitigating climate change through coastal ecosystem management.

Healthy coastal habitat is not only important for seafood and recreation, it also plays an important role in moderating climate change. Salt marshes, mangroves, and seagrass beds absorb large quantities of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it, thus decreasing the effects of global warming. These types of habitat are known as carbon sinks and contain large stores of carbon accumulated over hundreds to thousands of years.

Coastal blue carbon is the carbon captured by living coastal and marine organisms and stored in coastal ecosystems. Salt marshes, mangroves, and seagrass beds play two important roles:

  • Carbon sequestration—the process of capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, measured as a rate of carbon uptake per year
  • Carbon storage—the long-term confinement of carbon in plant materials or sediment, measured as a total weight of carbon stored


Why is it Important?

Carbon Storage Abilities of Different Habitat Types (NOAA - National Marine Fisheries Service)

Current studies suggest that mangroves and coastal wetlands annually sequester carbon at a rate two to four times greater than mature tropical forests and store three to five times more carbon per equivalent area than tropical forests. Most coastal blue carbon is stored in the soil, not in above-ground plant materials (biomass), as is the case with tropical forests.

Although coastal habitats provide a great service in capturing carbon, their destruction poses a great risk. When these habitats are damaged or destroyed, not only is their carbon sequestration capacity lost, but stored carbon is released and contributes to increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As a result, damaged or destroyed coastal habitats change from being net carbon sinks to net carbon emitters. Unfortunately, coastal habitats around the world are being lost at a rapid rate, largely due to coastal development for housing, ports, and commercial facilities.

What is Being Done?


What Can You Do?

  • Check out NOAA's Coastal Blue Carbon Efforts.
  • Read the latest Blue Carbon News.
  • Learn much more at the Blue Carbon Portal.
  • Advocate for the preservation and restoration of coastal habitats that sequester carbon. As a bonus, these same habitats often provide other benefits, including moderating coastal erosion and helping to keep coastal waters clean.


References and Additional Sources of Information

Coastal Blue Carbon - NOAA

The Blue Carbon Initiative

BlueCarbonPortal.org

The Blue Carbon Project

Green Payments for Blue Carbon - Economic Incentives for Protecting Threatened Coastal Habitats, Duke University, Nicholas Institute, April 2011.

North America's Blue Carbon: Assessing the Role of Coastal Habitats in the Continent's Carbon Budget - A photo essay, Commission for Environmental Cooperation, undated.