The Kelp Forest Challenge: A collaborative global movement to protect and restore 4 million hectares of kelp forests
The Kelp Forest Challenge, launched in Hobart, Tasmania, mobilizes global experts and communities to restore 1M hectares and protect 3M hectares of kelp forests by 2040. This initiative advances marine biodiversity, ecosystem services, climate resilience, and international collaboration to safeguard one of the world’s most threatened coastal ecosystems.
Subject Tags
- Coastal
- Climate resilience
- Biodiversity
Abstract
Marine kelp forests cover 1/3 of our world's coastlines, are heralded as a nature-based solution to address socio-environmental issues, connect hundreds of millions of people with the ocean, and support a rich web of biodiversity throughout our oceans. But they are increasingly threatened with some areas reporting over 90% declines in kelp forest cover in living memory. Despite their importance and the threats they face, kelp forests are entirely absent from the international conservation dialogue. No international laws, policies, or targets focus on kelp forests and very few countries consider them in their national policy. The Kelp Forest Challenge addresses that gap. Together with 252 kelp experts, professionals, and citizens from 25 countries, the Kelp Forest Challenge was developed as a grassroots vision of what the world can achieve for kelp forest conservation. It is a global call to restore 1 million and protect 3 million hectares of kelp forests by 2040. This is a monumental challenge, that will require coordination across multiple levels of society and the mobilization of immense resources. Pledges may therefore include area for protection or restoration, enabling pledges which assist in conservation (funding, equipment, professional expertise, capacity building), or awareness-based pledges which increase awareness or education about kelp forests. Correspondingly, participants may be from government, scientific institutions, private sector, NGOs, community groups, or individuals. This challenge is the beginning of a 17-year mission to save our kelp forests and anyone and any organisation is invited to participate.
Citation
Eger, A., Aguirre, J. D., Altamirano, M., Arafeh-Dalmau, N., Arroyo, N. L., Bauer-Civiello, A. M., ... & Vergès, A. (2024). The Kelp Forest Challenge: A collaborative global movement to protect and restore 4 million hectares of kelp forests. Journal of Applied Phycology, 36(2), 951-964.
TNC Authors
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Simon Branigan
The Nature Conservancy -
Norah Eddy
The Nature Conservancy