Clarifying the role of coastal and marine systems in climate mitigation
2017
The international scientific community is increasingly recognizing the role of natural systems in
climate-change mitigation. While forests have historically been the primary focus of such efforts, coastal wetlands – particularly
seagrasses, tidal marshes, and mangroves – are now considered important and effective long-term
carbon sinks. However, some members of the coastal and
marine policyand management community have been interested in expanding climate mitigation strategies to include other components within coastal and
marinesystems, such as
coral reefs, phytoplankton,
kelp forests, and
marinefauna. We analyze the scientific evidence regarding whether these
marine ecosystemsand ecosystem components are viable long-term
carbon sinksand whether they can be managed for climate mitigation. Our findings could assist decision makers and conservation practitioners in identifying which components of coastal and
marine ecosystemsshould be prioritized in current climate mitigation strategies and policies.
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