Blue forests, such as mangroves, saltmarshes, seagrass, and kelp, are teeming with life and are some of the most diverse habitats on Earth. The value they provide for life above and below water is immense. Their natural abilities to provide a wide range of benefits are considered their superpowers. Blue forests use these superpowers to prevent climate change and protect coastal communities from its harmful impacts, such as rising seas, flooding and cyclone winds. In this module, we will learn about the importance of these ecosystems for supporting fisheries, sequestering carbon, and their applications for human use. Despite their paramount role and dimensions, sadly, humans continually overlook the benefits of these incredible ecosystems and are destroying them at an alarming rate, though recent trends in ecosystem conservation and restoration show promise for the improvement of blue forests.
Blue forests refer to vegetated coastal and marine habitats, namely mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, kelp forests, and saltmarshes. Given their key roles and efficiency in sequestering greenhouse gases that otherwise provoke climate change, they are considered climate superheroes.