Climate benefits from establishing marine protected areas targeted at blue carbon solutions

Jankowska, Emilia and Pelc, Robin and Alvarez, Jimena and Mehra, Mamta and Frischmann, Chad J. (2022) Climate benefits from establishing marine protected areas targeted at blue carbon solutions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 119 (23): e212170511. ISSN 0027-8424

Abstract

Significance Marine conservation and the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) have gained attention as ways to protect and restore ecosystems and rebuild fish populations. They may also play an important role in sequestering carbon and reducing emissions from sources such as habitat degradation. Implementing six strategies for enhancing blue carbon sinks, including establishing MPAs to protect and restore coastal wetlands, macroalgae forests, and seafloor sediments and expand seaweed farming can not only remove significant amounts of carbon and avoid emissions but also bring many more environmental and human-related benefits.