5 “Blue Forests” That are Vital to Life on Earth

When you think of a forest, chances are you picture trees rising high above you, leaves crunching underfoot. But there are some very different types of forest – in and under the water – that are just as beautiful and just as precious. While they don’t all contain trees, these so-called blue forests are essential to life on this planet, say experts.

Open
Tags: Blue Carbon Blue Forests Ecosystem Benefits Kelp mangroves saltmarshes Seagrass
5 “Blue Forests” That are Vital to Life on Earth

Related Resources

SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
 Sustainable Development Goal 14 is to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development, according to the United Nations. The visualizations and data o[...]
Tags: ConservationoceanSDG 14Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable development, poverty eradication and reducing inequalities. In: Global warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report
 An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response t[...]
Tags: Climate Changeglobal warmingSociety
World’s first underwater climate strike calls for ocean protection
 Young Mauritian scientist and climate advocate, Shaama Sandooyea, has held the world’s first ever underwater climate strike at the heart of the Indian Ocean. The protest took place at the Saya de Ma[...]
Tags: climate activismClimate Justiceclimate stikeoceans
Beyond Plastic Waste
 With more than 8 million tons of plastic entering the ocean each year, humanity must urgently rethink the way we make and use plastics, so that they do not become waste in the first place. Cheap, ligh[...]
Tags: marine plasticoceanplastic wastePollution
2020 Was One of Three Warmest Years on Record
 The year 2020 was one of the three warmest on record, and rivalled 2016 for the top spot, according to a consolidation of five leading international datasets by the World Meteorological Organization ([...]
Tags: Carbon EmissionsClimate ChangeGlobal carbon cycleOcean Acidification
What are El Niño and La Niña?
 El Niño and La Niña are climate patterns in the Pacific Ocean that can affect weather worldwide and can also have global impacts on weather, wildfires, ecosystems, and economies. [...]
Tags: climateOcean Literacy
What are Mangrove Forests?
 Mangroves are shrubs and trees that grow in coastal waters. Mangroves are halophytes, meaning they are salt-tolerant trees that thrive in intertidal conditions. These diverse and productive ecosystems[...]
Tags: BiodiversityBlue CarbonBlue ForestsEcosystem Benefits
Kelp Deforestation: Threats to our Underwater Forests
 Kelp forests are some of the most dynamic and ecologically productive marine habitats in the world. A root-like system called a holdfast affixes to the rocky seafloor, supporting a long stipe that ext[...]
Tags: Blue ForestsEcosystem BenefitsKelpKelp forests