Blog

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

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

Last week, the BCL team had engaging discussions with Beach Energy employees about the importance of coastal wetlands and blue carbon for climate change mitigation, and about how our new project, #ReGenOurCoasts, can help in restoration efforts. About 20 people from the team at Beach Energy participated from all over Australia in a Lunch &Read more

The Blue Carbon Lab, with the help of local consultants, is working with the Seychelles Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change (MEECC) to derive the first estimate of mangrove blue carbon in Seychelles. This archipelagic nation is home to incredible biodiversity, particularly in its coral reefs and coastal wetlands, and mangroves are widely distributedRead more

Two different groups of citizen scientists, staff members from Intrepid Travel and students from Holmesglen TAFE, have joined a team of researchers and land managers from Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (WTOAC), Arthur Rylah Institute, Parks Victoria and the Blue Carbon Lab for workshops involving weed monitoring in a unique coastal grassland ecosystem. This areaRead more

Located in the Western Indian Ocean, the Seychelles archipelago contains some of the most thriving and diverse coastal ecosystems on the planet. Best estimates suggest Seychelles is endowed with approx. 2.1 million hectares of seagrass meadows and mangrove forests spread across the inner and outer islands. These coastal ecosystems provide a range of services to Seychellois.Read more

Deakin University’s Blue Carbon Lab is continuing its relationship with HSBC, with confirmation of funding for a new project. The two-year partnership will enable Deakin scientists to expand the program ‘Queensland Blue’ and conduct a feasibility assessment of sites within Great Barrier Reef catchments to identify pilot blue carbon projects which can be prioritised forRead more

The GeelongPort #BlueCarbonArmy visited former Avalon saltponds to survey the naturally-rehabilitated saltmarsh and measure the carbon gains. Twenty new participants joined the GeelongPort #BlueCarbonArmy at the former Avalon saltworks (northeast of Corio Bay) to sample saltmarsh communities that are naturally recovering due to the collapse of tidal barriers. The Avalon region used to have healthyRead more

More than 30 scientists from Seychelles participated in a blue carbon technical workshop aimed at demonstrating state-of-the-art sampling techniques to quantify and monitor blue carbon stocks. Blue carbon is the carbon stored in marine ecosystems such as mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and saltmarshes. These ecosystems are one of the world’s most efficient natural carbon sinks,Read more

GeelongPort staff joined our BCL scientists in the field to sample carbon stocks from healthy and degraded saltmarsh communities in Corio Bay. The citizen science day started with a series of educational talks where participants learned about coastal wetlands, blue carbon, and the role of nature-based solutions climate change mitigation. Citizen Scientists from the GeelongPortRead more