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Lookup NU author(s): Hannah Earp
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2023, The Author(s).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.
Author(s): Eger A, Aguirre JD, Altamirano M, Arafeh-Dalmau N, Arroyo NL, Bauer-Civiello AM, Beas-Luna R, Bekkby T, Bellgrove A, Bennett S, Bernal B, Blain CO, Boada J, Branigan S, Bursic J, Cevallos B, Choi CG, Connell SD, Edward C, Earp HS, Eddy N, Matthius A, Ennis L-A, Falace A, Ferreira AM, Filbee-Dexter K, Forbes H, Francis P, Franco JN, Geisler KG, Giraldo-Ospina A, Gonzalez AV, Hingorani S, Hohman R, Ivesa L, Kaleb S, Keane JP, Koch SJI, Krumhansl K, Ladah L, Lafont DJ, Layton C, Le DM, Lee LC, Ling SD, Lonhart SI, Malpica-Cruz L, Mangialajo L, McConnell A, McHugh TA, Micheli F, Miller KI, Monserrat M, Montes-Herrera J, Moreno B, Orchard S, Neufeld CJ, Peabody B, Peleg O, Pessarrodona A, Pocklington JB, Reeves SE, Ricart AM, Ross F, Schanz FR, Schreider M, Sedarat M, Smith SM, Starko S, Strain EMA, Tamburello L, Timmer B, Toft JE, Uribe RA, van den Burg SWK, Vasquez JA, Veenhof RJ, Wernberg T, Wood G, Zepeda-Dominguez JA, Verges A
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Applied Phycology
Year: 2024
Volume: 36
Pages: 951-964
Print publication date: 01/04/2024
Online publication date: 09/10/2023
Acceptance date: 13/09/2023
ISSN (print): 0921-8971
ISSN (electronic): 1573-5176
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-023-03103-y
DOI: 10.1007/s10811-023-03103-y
