Blue carbon ecosystems: How they can fight climate change 

Ever heard of blue carbon? We doubt. Though you may have some idea about what functions oceans and coastal ecosystems such as mangroves perform, you may not know that they are called blue carbon ecosystems.  

Actually, blue carbon is the term given for carbon stored by the oceans and coastal ecosystems. So when carbon dioxide is released into the air through various human activities, these oceans and coastal trees naturally absorb this carbon reducing their damage to the planet. That’s how it is named ‘blue carbon’.  Let’s understand how it works.  

Storing carbon 
The question is how these ecosystems store carbon. So, coastal ecosystems (such as sea grasses, mangroves, tidal marshes, algae, etc.) "capture and hold" carbon, acting as something called a ‘carbon sink’. You would be surprised to know that though these coastal systems look much smaller in size than the planet's forests, they absorb this carbon at a much faster rate. But what do they do with the carbon? Well, they store it under the ground where we can’t see it, but it is still there. 

Natural ecosystems damaged 
So you could ask what happens if this natural process is interfered with? When these blue carbon ecosystems are healthy, they provide habitat for marine species, support fish stocks and food security, sustain coastal communities and livelihoods, filter water flowing into our oceans and reef systems, and protect coastlines from erosion and storm surges. 

But the sad part is that these ecosystems are increasingly getting damaged led by human activities. For example, mangrove forest exploitation, land and marine sources of pollution, industrial and urban coastal development are all having a severe impact on these ecosystems. In turn, the carbon they stored underneath for thousands of years is being released back into the atmosphere adversely impacting the climate and causing climate change.  

Restoration of blue carbon systems  
So one thing is clear. If we protect and restore these coastal habitats, we can reduce climate change. And there are many ways we can do that. For example, if we somehow manage to reduce the pollution both on land and sea, it would automatically lead to cleaner seas and greener lands. Also, marine life and areas need to be protected through the regular ocean and coastal observations. 

Bonus fact 
Now that you know what is blue carbon, you should also know what green carbon is. Any guesses?  

Green carbon commonly refers to carbon that is contained in living vegetation and soil in forest ecosystems. Since they are green, hence the name ‘green carbon’.