Blue Carbon ~ Mitigating climate change by restoring coastal habitats
“Blue Carbon” refers to the carbon dioxide captured and stored by oceans and coastal ecosystems, a process called carbon sequestration.
CCE Marine Program has been restoring coastal habitats, including eelgrass meadows, for over 35 years. Funded by and in partnership with the South Shore Estuary Reserve Program, we have been able to expand these efforts as part of our Blue Carbon Project, helping to mitigate climate change.
Support from the SSER Program has also enabled CCE Marine’s Back to the Bays Initiative to developed a Blue Carbon Curriculum, with in-school presentations, field trips, and virtual modules to engage students and the public in habitat restoration, and bring awareness to climate change. A limited number of educational programs have been provided for FREE to schools and libraries within the SSER region.
Eelgrass and other marine plants play a crucial role in reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and mitigating climate change. These ecosystems also serve as essential habitat for marine species, prevent erosion, and produce 50% of Earth’s oxygen supply.
Coastal habitats are some of the most effective carbon sinks in the world, meaning they remove large amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, and store it as organic carbon in their roots and surrounding sediments.
Map of Long Island’s South Shore Estuary Reserve region
Ongoing Blue Carbon Projects
With the help of volunteer Back to the Bays Stewards and local students in the SSER region, CCE Marine Program has been able to continue planting eelgrass meadows (Zostera marina), saltmarsh cordgrass (Sporobolus alterniflorus), American beach grass (Ammophila breviligulata), and coastal shrubs throughout the South Shore Estuary Reserve. Stewards assist in eelgrass restoration by making burlap “tortillas”, weaving eelgrass shoots for faster planting, and stuffing BuDS nets with eelgrass flowers. They also help collect native seed, split grasses for up-potting, and plant local shrubs and pollinator flowers.
