Blue Forest - Kelp Afforestation
@blueforestprogram1
Kelp forests – underwater forests formed by brown seaweed species – are highly productive ecosystems which harbour some of the highest biodiversity in temperate seas. The Blue Forest program will validate cultivated kelp afforestation as a tool for marine restoration and blue carbon storage.
Project ID: BFP
Overview
The Blue Forest project will fund 75acres (>1,500,000 mature plants) of rope-grown kelp afforestation at the largest licensed UK kelp farm, located in North Devon, England.
It will be delivered and managed by Algapelago, a mariculture and biotech company, in collaboration with research partners.
The Blue Forest is a non-profit biodiversity and climate research program, gathering data on kelp cultivation as a nature-based solution.
It will be delivered and managed by Algapelago, a mariculture and biotech company, in collaboration with research partners.
The Blue Forest is a non-profit biodiversity and climate research program, gathering data on kelp cultivation as a nature-based solution.
Why Kelp?
Kelp is a keystone marine species, known as ‘habitat engineers’ for their ability to create complex habitats. These majestic underwater forests harbour some of the highest biodiversity in temperate seas, and provide invaluable ecosystem services: improving water quality, absorbing excess nutrients, storing carbon and buffering against ocean acidification.
Yet, kelp habitat is declining globally and under threat from ocean warming, overgrazing and pressure from human activities.
Yet, kelp habitat is declining globally and under threat from ocean warming, overgrazing and pressure from human activities.
Why the Blue Forest?
Seaweed cultivation provides a scalable opportunity to increase kelp habitat while providing nature-based solutions for nutrient cycling, carbon storage and biodiversity uplift.
However, the scientific community lacks data on the ecosystem impacts of kelp cultivation at scale over a meaningful timescale.
The Blue Forest will answer a key knowledge gap: can cultivated kelp provide similar ecosystem services to wild forests?
However, the scientific community lacks data on the ecosystem impacts of kelp cultivation at scale over a meaningful timescale.
The Blue Forest will answer a key knowledge gap: can cultivated kelp provide similar ecosystem services to wild forests?
Research focus
Research will be led by our academic partners at Plymouth Marine Lab and Portsmouth University. Research will focus on measuring: i) kelp carbon flows, ii) biodiversity uplift and iii) the lifecycle of cultivated kelp.
Data will be released open-source to be used in the policy and regulatory frameworks of kelp farming in the UK and beyond.
Findings from this project will ensure an evidence-based approach to cultivated kelp afforestation and potentially unlock new funding streams for a wave of Blue Forests.
Data will be released open-source to be used in the policy and regulatory frameworks of kelp farming in the UK and beyond.
Findings from this project will ensure an evidence-based approach to cultivated kelp afforestation and potentially unlock new funding streams for a wave of Blue Forests.
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