Mangrove forests play a key role in climate change mitigation and adaptation, globally recognised as ‘Natural Climate Solutions’ (NCS). However, they, along with other blue carbon ecosystems, have experienced worldwide decline due to pressures from human activity such as land-use change, pollution, and overexploitation. For these coastal ecosystems to meaningfully mitigate impacts of climate changeRead more
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Coastal wetland ecosystems, including saltmarsh, mangrove forests and seagrass meadows, play a crucial role in adapting and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Coastal wetlands store large amounts of carbon, also known as blue carbon, in their soils and vegetation- making them important carbon sinks. The protection and restoration of these ecosystems can help reduceRead more
The BCL Newsletter (March 2023) is hot off the press! ReadSubscribeRead more
GeelongPort’s 2023 citizen science program is now underway! Earlier this month, GeelongPort #BlueCarbonArmy undertook bird and bug surveys at Avalon Coastal reserve to explore the biodiversity gains from saltmarsh restoration. Fieldwork took place in the former Avalon saltworks (northeast of Corio Bay). This site offers a unique landscape of intertidal ponds with varying degrees of human impact:Read more
Regenerating Our Coasts is moving into an exciting phase – mangrove seeds planted into our trial plots over summer have germinated and are starting to grow. Over the coming months (and years) we’ll be monitoring their growth and survival under various methods, including the use of biodegradable structures as a novel way to enhance activeRead more
We recently celebrated World Wetlands Day. This year the Convention on Wetlands wants to focus on efforts to reverse the global trend of wetlands loss and degradation by saying it’s time for wetlands restoration. They’ve produced some great materials to help people understand the challenges wetlands face, and ways that everyone can play a partRead more
The Blue Carbon Lab recently helped run three citizen science workshops at Truganina Wetland, a 175-hectare area of Biodiversity Significance containing critical habitat for threatened and protected flora and fauna. This wetland is however degraded in several areas and faces various threats to its health as an ecosystem. These workshops focused on identifying such threats,Read more
Adding seaweed to the menu! Unlocking the power of seaweed – a potential $million Gippsland industry
When you think about eating seaweed you most likely think of seaweed on a beach or taste it in a sushi roll? However, did you know, seaweed is a dynamic food source which presents a wide range of exciting applications from yoghurt thickener to animal feed, pharmaceutical compounds, fertilisers and even as a biofuel? WhileRead more
