Mapping and valuing blue carbon for utilization in marine spatial planning

Blue carbon, the carbon captured and stored in natural marine and coastal habitats, represents a critical ecosystem service that can mitigate against climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions from human activity. Marine sediments represent a significant global carbon reserve and are key in helping to regulate climate. Yet while the importance of coastal and shallow blue carbon habitats (e.g. seagrass beds and saltmarshes) is recognised, with many such areas being afforded protection, it is estimated that only 2% of subtidal sediments that store carbon are protected against activities that could disturb the seafloor and result in the loss of blue carbon. BC4MSP aims to address this issue, taking a transnational approach across countries in the NPA, countries which are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Specifically BC4MSP aims to improve understanding of the extent of blue carbon across the North Atlantic and identify where blue carbon is most likely to be stored in deep sea areas. This will be achieved by taking a new approach in identifying biological and physical features likely to be indicators of blue carbon sinks in deep-sea habitats. BC4MSP then aims to develop innovative Marine Spatial Planning solutions that can incorporate new information about deep-sea blue carbon to best protect it, while considering the conflicting needs of marine stakeholders in this region. Using a stakeholder driven approach BC4MSP will improve understanding of how different marine stakeholders interact with blue carbon, create a wider understanding of the importance of blue carbon and balance the needs of multiple users of our marine spaces while protecting blue carbon. The outcomes of the project will help to best protect blue carbon in the deep North Atlantic, mitigate against climate change and support the sustainable use of seas in the NPA so that they continue to provide important economic, societal and cultural value.

Blue carbon, the carbon captured and stored in natural marine and coastal habitats, represents a critical ecosystem service that can mitigate against climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions from human activity. Marine sediments represent a significant global carbon reserve and are key in helping to regulate climate. Yet while the importance of coastal and shallow blue carbon habitats (e.g. seagrass beds and saltmarshes) is recognised, with many such areas being afforded protection, it is estimated that only 2% of subtidal sediments that store carbon are protected against activities that could disturb the seafloor and result in the loss of blue carbon. BC4MSP aimed to start addressing this issue, taking a transnational approach across five countries in the NPA (Ireland, Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Norway), which are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Specifically, BC4MSP aimed to improve understanding of the extent of blue carbon across the North Atlantic and identify where blue carbon is most likely to be stored in deep sea areas. To begin addressing this objective a stock take was made of current data sources collected and stored both in Ireland and Greenland that could be used to provide insight into where blue carbon is stored in our marine environments. This includes data on organic carbon content in sediments as well as carbon stored in benthic megafauna, but also data availability of substratum type within the different continental shelves and knowledge on their geomorphology. BC4MSP aimed to move forward and take new approaches in identifying biological and physical features likely to be indicators of blue carbon sinks in shelf-sea habitats, to fill knowledge gaps. The use of alternative indicators for identifying blue carbon was discussed extensively during a knowledge exchange workshop. Irish and Norwegian partners are currently working on projects exploring blue carbon sinks on the Irish shelf by creating a seabed blue carbon model, based on existing data on organic carbon content and sediment grain size. The BC4MSP workshop explored the possibility of finding carbon hotspots and determining if these are linked to biodiversity hotspots. Some countries within the NPA area have been found to have greater benthic flora and fauna datasets than sediment data so utilising both datasets to improve knowledge of carbon across our shelf and off-shelf seas. BC4MSP also aimed to develop innovative Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) solutions that can incorporate new information about deep-sea blue carbon and other vital marine features to best protect them, while considering the conflicting needs of marine stakeholders in this region. A particular need for an MSP tool was identified for Greenland, and the Faroe Islands, which are both in early stages of developing and adopting MSP approaches for their waters. The Greenland government has recognised the importance of a MSP tool and has made a formal offer to make funds available for an initial maintenance of a developed platform for up to 5 years after the project end. After which period it is hoped the usefulness of this platform will have been proven without doubt and the annual maintenance part of the government budget. BC4MSP recognised the importance of a stakeholder driven approach when moving forward to create a wider understanding of the importance of blue carbon and balance the needs of multiple users of our marine spaces while protecting blue carbon. Relevant stakeholders and different approaches required to effectively engage them were identified in this preliminary phase of the project. In particular, it was recognised that there is a need to improve understanding of Blue Carbon and its potential across the Northern Periphery Area. Currently the Irish partners are working on developing a standardised information and outreach program, involving focus-groups and individual interviews to better understand the perception of blue carbon across a wide range of stakeholders and how best to engage them. This approach and how it could be best tailored to the specific needs and requirements of the different countries was discussed during a knowledge exchange workshop. It was agreed that different information dissemination pathways need to be used for each of the four major stakeholders including the state agencies, policy makers, national research centres and the public with a particular emphasis on native languages and ensuring awareness of the economic differences between countries. It is envisioned that outputs from future work that builds on this preliminary project will help to best protect blue carbon in the deep North Atlantic, mitigate against climate change and support the sustainable use of seas in the NPA so that they continue to provide important economic, societal and cultural value.