Seaforestation: regenerating the Earth by unifying countries

Translated by Alessandra Fumagalli 

Seaforestation is one of the most promising actions within the fight against climate change and the loss in marine biodiversity. This innovative approach involves the regeneration of marine ecosystems, like kelp forests and seagrass meadows, which play a fundamental role in the elimination of carbon, in the coast’s protection and in the biodiversity support. However, seareforestation is not only an environmental issue: it deals also with international relations and global politics. Some agreements like The Nagoya Protocol and the Paris Agreement, together with the Blue Carbon Initiative and the Seaforestation Projects, are fundamental for the success of these initiatives.  

The Nagoya Protocol, entered into force in 2010 is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on BIological Diversity, aiming at ensuring a fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. This protocol is particularly relevant for the seareforestation, because technologies and developed actions for this aim often involve the use of marine genetic resources. International cooperation and the observance of such Protocol ensure developing countries, which are often home to these important resources, to benefit from the innovation and reforestation projects. The Paris Agreement is a legally binding treaty on climate change, adopted in 2015, aiming at limiting global warming below 2 C° above pre-industrial levels. Seaforestation helps the Agreement’s goals, sequestering carbon dioxide through the growth of kelps and marine plants. All the countries can include these initiatives in their mitigation national plans, called Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs), improving their efforts in the fight against climate change. 

Indeed, international initiatives must be examined. The Blue Carbon Initiative is a global partnership which includes such organizations, like the Conservation INternational, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the UNESCO’s Blue Carbon Research Center. This program focuses on the conservation and restoration of the coastal ecosystems, like mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses, which are able to sequester and store large quantities of blue carbon in both the plants and the sediment below. Seagrasses, in particular, can grow rapidly, absorbing great quantities of carbon that is stored in their tissues and marine sediments. Blue Carbon Initiative promotes research projects, develops actions for the monitoring and evaluating the blue carbon and works with the government to integrate these ecosystems in the programs for carbon’s management. Also the Seaforestation Projects play a fundamental role, because they are sea reforestation programs aiming at restoring kelp forests and other marine habitats through initiative technologies. These projects often involve partnership among governments, academic institutions, non-governative organizations and local communities. For example, in Australia, the University of Tasmania, started a project called Kelp Watch, aiming at monitoring and restoring kelp forests along the south coast. The program uses advanced technologies, like the remote sensing and drones to map and monitor kelp growth. In Norway, the Ocean Forest Project is a partnership between Lerøy Seafood Group company and Bellona, a biotechnology company. This program aims at kelp and mollusk cultivation to produce biofuel and food, reducing carbon dioxide’s emissions. In the US West Coast, the Puget Sound Restoration Project aims at restoring seagrass meadows, fundamental for the local ecosystem. This project involves scientists, volunteers and other people belonging to the communities active in the orchard and monitoring activities. 

The benefits of seaforestation are multiple and they go far beyond the simple carbon’s capture. Kelp forests and seagrass meadows are extremely efficient to capture carbon dioxide, contributing to mitigate climate change. These ecosystems give crucial habitats for lots of marine species, improving the biodiversity and the resilience of the ecosystems. Seagrass meadows and kelp forests protect the coasts from erosion and reduce the rain's impact, protecting coastal communities. Habitats can support sustainable fishing, improving the food security for the coastal communities. Despite this, seaforestation has to face different challenges. The complexity of marine ecosystems, the lack of financings and the need for advanced technologies are important obstacles. Moreover, it is essential that reforestation projects respect rights and needs of the local communities, according to the Nagoya Protocol. Nevertheless, future perspectives are promising. The growing consciousness of the benefits of blue carbon, together with better political and financial support, could accelerate the development and the use of reforestation projects in the whole world. International cooperation plays a fundamental role, since any country can face global challenges of climate change and the loss in biodiversity. 

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