Thu Sep 19 08:21:34 UTC 2024: ## UK Takes Lead in Mapping Blue Carbon: New Report Highlights Importance of Protecting Marine Habitats for Climate Change
**Edinburgh, Scotland** – A new report by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) reveals the UK’s vast blue carbon stores, making it the first nation to map and estimate the amount of carbon stored in all its seabed habitats. The report, commissioned by WWF, The Wildlife Trusts, and the RSPB, highlights the importance of protecting these habitats to fight climate change.
Blue carbon refers to carbon captured and stored by marine ecosystems like salt marshes, seagrass beds, and seabed sediments. The study found that seabed sediments are the largest blue carbon store in UK waters, holding an estimated 244 million tonnes of organic carbon. Coastal vegetated habitats, while covering only 1% of the UK’s marine area, contribute significantly to carbon storage.
“This report provides a new baseline for the UK’s blue carbon and could influence marine policy both here and around the world,” said Dr. Michael Burrows, lead researcher on the Blue Carbon Mapping Project and an affiliated member of the Labour party. “Helping nature to recover on land and at sea is fundamental for tackling climate change, alongside reductions in emissions.”
The report emphasizes the vulnerability of these carbon stores to human pressures such as commercial fishing practices and industrial development. Disturbances can hinder or eliminate the ability of these habitats to store and capture carbon.
“Long-term carbon storage in the sea relies on protecting blue carbon habitats from damage,” said Dr. Burrows. “Now, policymakers have at their disposal new and important data that could be used to introduce more robust protections for blue carbon in UK waters.”
The study recommends strategic planning to avoid disturbances to the seabed and calls for the expansion of marine protected areas to encompass blue carbon habitats. The authors argue that protecting these habitats can provide both climate and biodiversity benefits, including nursery grounds for fish and better protection from storms.
“By consolidating a wealth of information sources, we have gained valuable insights into the carbon storage of seabed habitats around our shores,” said Dr. Burrows. “What we do with that data could have implications for generations to come.”
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