Blue Carbon Ecosystems – what’s included, what’s not and why

Webinar Summary:

With increasing recognition of the role natural systems have in climate mitigation, where should management initiatives focus? While forest have historically had the spotlight of such efforts, coastal wetland ecosystems are now considered important and effective long-term carbon sinks. This attention to “blue carbon” habitats has sparked interest in including other marine systems, such as coral reefs, phytoplankton, kelp forests, and marine fauna.

In this webinar, authors of a recently published paper – Clarifying the role of coastal and marine systems in climate mitigation (Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Feb. 2017) – analyze the scientific evidence and potential management role of several coastal and marine ecosystems to determine which should be prioritized within current climate mitigation strategies and policies. Findings can assist decision-makers and conservation practitioners to understand where management actions can have additional carbon benefits.

Presenters: Dr. Jennifer Howard and Dr. Ariana Sutton-Grier

Dr. Jennifer Howard is the Marine Climate Change Director at Conservation International. Prior to accepting her current position, she was a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow where she served two years at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service. While at NOAA, Jennifer co-led and coordinated the development of the Ocean and Marine Resources in a Changing Climate Technical Input Report to the National Climate Assessment and coordinated the Interagency Working Group for Ocean Acidification.

Dr. Ariana Sutton-Grier is an ecosystem ecologist with expertise in wetland ecology and restoration, biodiversity, biogeochemistry, climate change, and ecosystem services. Dr. Sutton-Grier is a research faculty member at the University of Maryland in the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center and is also the Ecosystem Science Adviser for the National Ocean Service at NOAA.  She holds Honors Bachelor degrees from Oregon State University in Environmental Science and International Studies and a doctoral degree from Duke University in Ecology. 

REGISTER online at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6381612047463199747

Moderator: Stefanie Simpson, Blue Carbon Program Manager, Restore America’s Estuaries (and paper co-author)

WHEN: Wednesday, February 8, 2017, 2pm - 3pm EST

This free webinar is hosted by Restore America’s Estuaries.

 

Stefanie Simpson

Blue Carbon Program Manager

Restore America’s Estuaries

703-524-0248 ext 6

ssimpson@estuaries.org

www.estuaries.org/bluecarbon   

Closing Date: 
08-Feb-2017