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Today, Seagrass Recovery joins the United
Nations in calling attention to the need to restore critical Seagrass habitats in
the coastal zone of the World's oceans while creating jobs, reversing the decline
of the
fisheries and combating climate change.
TAMPA, FL - October 15, 2009 - A report released October 14, 2009 by the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) stresses
the importance of urgent action to
maintain and restore marine ecosystems such as seagrass, mangroves and salt marshes
(blue carbon sinks) as the key to combating climate change. With the announcement,
a call to action is being made for the restoration of the world's blue forests and
blue carbon sinks to combat climate change and sea level rise. Florida based Seagrass
Recovery has been successfully restoring seagrass meadows since 1996 and stands
ready to meet this expected increase in the need for restoration of this important
resource.
The report, “Blue Carbon: The Role of Healthy Oceans in Binding Carbon” was produced
by three United Nations agencies and leading scientists. It found the ocean’s vegetative
habitats (seagrass, mangroves and salt marshes) cover less than 1% of the seabed
and equal less than .05% of the biomass on land but store a comparable amount of
carbon per year, ranking them among the most efficient carbon sinks on the planet,
and unlike carbon that may be locked away for decades or centuries on land, blue
carbon stored in the oceans remain for millennia.
Unfortunately, over 30% of seagrass meadows have been lost since the 1940s and the
rate is accelerating according to the report, sponsored by UNEP, the Food and Agricultural
Organisation and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO. Seven
percent of these “blue carbon sinks” are being lost annually – seven times the rate
of loss of 50 years ago.
According to the report, “If more action is not taken to sustain these vital ecosystems,
most may be lost within two decades”, thus the loss of all of the benefits these
habitats provide, not just in battling climate change.
The report’s findings detail that the key element to combating climate change is
the restoration of degraded seagrass meadows. Seagrass Recovery has spent the last
14 years developing innovative techniques and patented technologies to replant and
restore damaged seagrass areas. The success of these methods have been scientifically
evaluated and documented by National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Jeff
Beggins, President and CEO of Seagrass Recovery stated that, "We applaud this
exciting realization that restoration projects focused on Seagrass habitats in our
coastal zone no longer should happen, but must happen. Seagrass Recovery recognizes
that through creating jobs in our coastal communities and restoring these valuable
blue carbon sinks, we look forward to playing a significant role in the reversal
of the issues facing our planet as we combat climate change and sea level rise while
making our coastline more resilient."
It is understood that Seagrasses provide countless benefits to our planet such as
being the nursery of the ocean, providing habitat and sustenance for 70% of marine
life, its direct correlation to water quality and providing protection for inshore
coral reef ecosystems as well as the protection of our coastlines from coastal erosion.
With the additional value add of these ecosystems being presented by this research
in the fight against climate change and sea level rise, Seagrass and other coastal
habitats will certainly benefit from the increased attention and awareness of the
newly published finding with regards to the ocean's role in permanently sequestering
carbon. This opportunity may create the ability to fund large scale restoration
projects in the coastal zone focused on seagrasses, salt marshes and mangroves for
the value these ecosystems present in worldwide carbon trading markets.
In Florida alone, according to information published by the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (FDEP) in 1995, over 175,000 acres of prop scarring exist
in the seagrass meadows found in the coastal waters of Florida. Information such
as this provides a real world example of the degradation mentioned by the UN and
the opportunities it presents to the Global economy.
For example, a simple restoration
of 100 acres will put over 1,000 coastal residents to work. Through the implementation
of successful restoration techniques, such as Seagrass Recovery’s sediment tubes,
to restore seagrass injuries sites, we can respond to this call to immediate action
presented by this UN report to focus restoration opportunities on reversing the
losses of these critical habitats through the restoration of the degraded habitats
as well as the creation of new ecosystems.
"In these challenging economic times, we have the ability to place literally thousands
of job seekers to work in long term sustainable careers while ensuring the future
health of coastal habitats for a multitude of reasons, this report is very exciting."
says Beggins.
The full report, “Blue Carbon: the Role of Healthy Oceans in Binding Carbon” can
be accessed at www.grida.no/publications/rr/blue-carbon/
About Seagrass Recovery
Since 1996, Seagrass Recovery has successfully transplanted, repaired and grown
several species of seagrass. The company, located in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida,
has completed more than 150 restoration projects around the world, many in Florida.
Once Seagrass Recovery becomes involved in a project, measurable results are typically
achieved within 12-18 months. This success represents a paradigm shift in how seagrass
restoration is applied and achieved.
Seagrass Recovery’s innovative methods and technologies – the company holds seven
industry-specific patents – are unique in the industry. These include techniques
that have been scientifically peer-reviewed and approved by the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Association as well as by the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission.
Seagrass Recovery is actively teaming with concerned citizens, organizations, educational
institutions, and corporations across Florida and the nation to protect, restore
and expand seagrass habitat. The company’s mission is to save oceans, estuaries
and shorelines for generations to come. To learn more about Seagrass Recovery and
its solutions, please visit www.seagrassrecovery.com.
To learn more about Seagrass Recovery and its solutions, please visit www.seagrassrecovery.com.
Contact: Kenny Wright, Executive Vice President, Seagrass Recovery, at 727-596-8020.
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