A comprehensive study led by FIU scientists spotlights the role of seagrasses in mitigating climate change. The study, which drew seagrass and soil samples spanning 61 countries, predicts that protecting at-risk seagrass meadows could avert $200 billion in climate damages by preventing the release of 1.2 billion tons of carbon pollution.
“Seagrass meadows are not just important for marine biodiversity, they are a critical piece of the climate puzzle,” says FIU’s Johannes Krause. Although they cover only 2 percent of the ocean floor, vegetated coastal ecosystems store nearly half the organic carbon buried in ocean sediments. Seagrass meadows in the Tropical Atlantic—including along Florida’s coastline—and Temperate Southern Africa hold the most carbon.
View Related Expert Profiles: Go to Source
