International Waters learning Exchange & Resource Network

Blue carbon: coastal ecosystems, their carbon storage, and potential for reducing emissions (2013)

Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development. Coastal ecosystems support a wide range of ecological services, for example, by providing primary nursery habitat for many species of fish, crustaceans, birds, and marine mammals.1 Coastal ecosystems also serve as natural barriers to control storm damage, other natural hazards, and coastal erosion.2 Besides these long-recognized ecological and economic benefits, coastal ecosystems are becoming touted for their considerable capacity to store and sequester carbon. “Blue carbon” is shorthand for the carbon found in coastal systems, especially in mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes.3 Mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses are spread across the globe, albeit concentrated in the tropics, and at least one of the three can be found in almost every country that has a coastline.

14 sep. 2018

3.2 MB

English

Blue carbon: coastal ecosystems, their carbon storage, and potential for reducing emissions (2013).pdf