Coastal blue forest ecosystems (mangroves, kelp, saltmarsh and seagrass) provide a wide array of ecosystem services. Blue forests support coastal fisheries and larger ecosystem functions. They act as part of a significant carbon sink and offer opportunities to mitigate and adapt to climate change by reducing acidity in the oceans.
In the northern latitudes, kelp forests are among the more common blue forest ecosystems and serve as biodiversity hotspots in cold waters. Kelp forests provide an important protective space for low-level trophic marine life such as rockfish, marine snails, and juvenile fish as well as for species that have commercial value, such as lobster and cod. Kelp forests also help protect coastal communities during storms by reducing wave intensity. Overall, kelp ecosystems improve biological diversity, create habitats, and provide food resources to marine species and humans alike.
These benefits and more were explored during an Arctic Frontiers side event on "The Value of Kelp", organized by the Norwegian Blue Forests Network. Speakers addressed a number of questions about kelp, including:
- What do we presently know about the role of kelp and seaweed in the global carbon budget?
- What role do Arctic blue forests play in building resilience and adapting to climate change?
- What roles do kelp and other macroalgae play in circumpolar coastal economies?
- What are the research needs for setting the right priorities for the use, conservation, and management of these ecosystems?
- What investments can Norway and other Arctic countries make to increase the value of kelp and other macroalgae?
The panelists agreed that there are a number of economic benefits now being derived from kelp forests in the Arctic, in particular in Greenland and along the Norwegian coast where there is already an abundance of kelp biomass. Currently, these circumpolar kelp forests support a broad range of traditional uses and commercial activities such as production of food, animal feed, and biofuel to replace fossil fuels. Kelp ecosystems are also beginning to provide alternative livelihood opportunities to northern communities in need of new economic prospects, such as eco-tourism and artisanal, high-end food products. Northern communities could benefit from additional research into marine permaculture and kelp farming.
Kelp forests can play a crucial role in helping Arctic communities become more resilient to climate change.
Learn more from the Norwegian Blue Forests Network:
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