The health of the world?s oceans is under threat. But the seas can be part of a visionary plan to address climate change and create a more sustainable economy. Andrew Saunders reports on the new science around ocean carbon capture
Photography by Matt Sharp
The power of plants to absorb excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow is well understood as a vital tool in the global battle against climate change. But which of the planet?s myriad natural environments does it best" Tropical rainforest" African Savannah" Scottish peat bogs" None of the above ? in fact the most carbon-rich ecosystem in the world is not to be found on land at all but in the ocean. Mangrove swamps, such as those found dotted around the coastlines of Indonesia, Brazil and Nigeria for example, are the unsung heroes of carbon storage, locking up no less than ten times as much carbon per kilometre square in their branches, roots and soils than even the densest forest. Follow LUX on Instagram: luxthemagazine
Together with other coastal ecosystems, including sea-grass meadows, tidal marshlands and coral reefs, these so-called ?blue carbon? resources highlight that the oceans play a much more prominent role in limiting global warming than has been generally recognised.
?Building the ocean?s resilience to change and helping to rebuild marine-species abundance and diversity are not as fully appreciated as they should be as crucial tools in combating climate change, but there is ...