BlueCarbonLab

Establishing roots on French Island! 🏝️ Last Friday, our #ReGenOurCoasts team travelled to French Island, a small yet vital part of Western Port in Victoria, Australia. We teamed up with the Western Port Biosphere Foundation to host a hands-on citizen science day, planting mangrove seedlings into biodegradable structures as part of our restoration trials 🌱    The site of our focus has faced significant mangrove losses, likely due to agricultural practices and potential harvesting in the 1960’s. Over the past 30-40 years, the mangroves have not been able to recover naturally. To help restore this site, we were joined by participants from Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Western Port Seagrass Partnership, Parks Victoria, landowners, restoration practitioners and passionate locals keen to give the mangroves a helping hand.    The day was filled with inspiring conversations about mangrove restoration efforts past, present, and future on French Island and throughout Western Port – showcasing a shared commitment and passion to protect these vital ecosystems.    Together, we planted 240 mangrove seedlings into biodegradable structures and measured key site characteristics. We look forward to seeing how these mangrove seedlings survive, thrive and provide coastal protection and the many benefits of healthy #coastalwetlands in the area 🌊     A special thank you to Josh West from Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation for a moving Welcome to Country ceremony, and to Cindy Devonport and Stephen Brend from the Western Port Biosphere Foundation for your unwavering energy and dedication in making this day possible!    Until next time, French Island! 🏝️ #RegenOurCoasts is funded by Beach Energy Ltd. #BlueCarbonArmy #CitizenScience #Mangroves #GenerationRestoration Stacey Trevathan-Tackett | Sabrina Kleis Brenøe Olsson | Teah Coate | Ivona Buljat | Tallulah Davey | Lucille Bailey | Linda French

A fresh new publication for you all! 🥬 With the help of Melissa Wartman, Jasmine Bursic and Paul Carnell, my first ever meta-analysis is online with the journal of Environmental and Sustainability Indicators. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gsunZ8gz Tidal marshes are #bluecarbon ecosystems that provide important habitat for birds, fish, and other animals. The aim of tidal marsh #restoration is to deliver the functions and diversity of a healthy, undisturbed marsh…but how long does this take? 🦆🐟🌿 Our review investigates the recovery of #ecosystemservices after marsh restoration or creation. On average, restored tidal marshes reached levels of vegetation cover, biomass, organic carbon, stem density, accretion, carbon accumulation, fish density, and bird abundance equivalent to nearby healthy reference marshes within five years! I report some highlights in the video below 👇 #wetlands #naturerepair

In October, four of our scientists presented their research at the 7th International Marine Conservation Congress in Cape Town, South Africa! They gathered with over 800 ocean users, scientists, managers, and custodians from around the world with the common goal of “Making Marine Science Matter”.    Phebe Fidge (Rowland) offers some reflections on the conference theme, calling scientists to share their love of the ocean, build inter-disciplinary relationships, communicate risk, create decision-useful tools, and inspire change.    🔗 Read the full article here - https://lnkd.in/gTMDnt_6   #IMCC7 #SCB #marinescience #CapeTown #SouthAfrica  

🎋 It’s time to bamboo-st our mangrove restoration efforts!  ♻️ Biodegradable structures for restoration come in many shapes and sizes. Last year, the #RegenOurCoasts team were introduced to innovative bamboo devices designed for #mangrove restoration. Seagrass Technologies Pty Ltd, owned by Stuart Thompson, highlighted their easy-to-install design, which resembles natural tussocks. 🌱 Similar to the BESE-Elements, these #bamboo devices are engineered to stabilise sediment, slow water movement, and naturally capture mangrove seeds, helping to support crucial early phases of growth. 💡 Eager to explore their potential, we are trialling an area of 336 of these bamboo devices at a site where we are struggling to retain Avicennia marina mangrove seeds. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers for their hard work! 🌿 In #RegenOurCoasts we aim to add to the restoration toolbox by exploring new ways biodegradable structures can enhance #coastalwetland restoration.  Curious to learn more about these bamboo devices? Check them out at mangroves.au. #RegenOurCoasts is funded by Beach Energy Ltd.  Stacey Trevathan-Tackett | Sabrina Kleis Brenøe Olsson | Teah Coate | Ivona Buljat | Tallulah Davey | Michael Streader | Judith Rosales Puaque | Aaliah Sameem | Lucille Bailey | Linda French | Danielle De Wit

🌏 It’s #InternationalWomensDay! At the BlueCarbonLab, we strive to #InspireInclusion in our work. Our team of 22 women are of 14 different nationalities and speak 15+ languages! Today, we celebrate this #diversity and the inspiring work of the women in the team to protect the environment and create positive change   #IWD2024 Stacey Trevathan-Tackett | Micheli Costa | Melissa Wartman | | Maria del Mar Palacios | Rifaee Rasheed | Sabiha Marine | Jasmine Bursic | Sabrina Kleis Brenøe Olsson | Phebe Fidge (Rowland) | Dr Jacqui Pocklington | Tallulah Davey | Nipunika Hansani | Ruby Martin | Kendrika Gaur | Nipuni Perera | Alexandra Rodríguez | Elizabeth Galanis | Agustina Quadri | Ahalya Suresh | Nataly Guevara | Teah Coate

🌿 Does nutrient pollution impact seagrass meadows’ ability to store carbon? 🌊 Recent studies reveal that nutrient enrichment in coastal environments can alter seagrass chemistry, reducing its potential to sequester #bluecarbon. 🔬 Research by Luo et al. reveals nutrient enrichment reduces the amount of recalcitrant carbon produced by seagrass plants. Building on this, a new study by Liu et al. found that elevated nutrient levels change seagrass litter chemistry, accelerating the decay of recalcitrant carbon. 📉 Together, these findings indicate that #eutrophication not only reduces the production of recalcitrant carbon in seagrass meadows, but also speeds up its decomposition, reducing long-term carbon storage.  🌍 With seagrass meadows being vital global #carbonsinks, these findings highlight how nutrient pollution can compromise carbon sequestration in #coastalwetlands. Effective management of nutrient inputs is key to protect and preserve the long-term carbon storage of these vital ecosystems. 🔗 Explore the research: Liu et al. 2024: https://lnkd.in/ginaX67z  Luo et al. 2024: https://lnkd.in/gGXWsMhR #BlueCarbon #Seagrass #Eutrophication #Nutrients #Pollution  Science of the Total Environment (STOTEN) I Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography 

🌊🏠 Attention Australian coastal landholders - have you participated in our nationwide landholder survey on #coastalwetland restoration?     If you haven’t had the chance yet, our survey is still open!     Help us understand your challenges and concerns to restore coastal wetlands. Your insights will be used to inform future restoration practices and policy measures (e.g., funding or incentive-schemes) to support landholder engagement in wetland restoration projects.   🔗 Take the survey: https://lnkd.in/ec664SNK   🔍 Learn more in our blog: https://lnkd.in/d9X88mwS  

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐢𝐧? 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? In the #RegenOurCoasts program, we’re monitoring coastal wetlands for #ecologicalrestoration and exploring #circulareconomy practices through industry-generated biomass waste production. This includes trialing apple- and seaweed-based cellulose as a biodegradable material for 3D printing and mould casting. If you want to learn more about the wonders of waste, our latest blog explores how #biomasswaste is being transformed into novel #biodegradable habitats, helping to restore vital coastal habitats.🌊 https://lnkd.in/gG9-a5CD #RegenOurCoasts is funded by Beach Energy Ltd Stacey Trevathan-Tackett I @Sachin Talekar | Sabrina Kleis Brenøe Olsson I Teah Coate I Imogen A. | Ivona Buljat | Lucille Bailey I Linda French | Danielle De Wit

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦!   Ivona Buljat is a botanist and environmental scientist with a passion for conservation, restoration and environmental education. Throughout her career, Ivona has worked in natural resource management and environmental education, providing conservation and restoration efforts in the grassland and saltmarsh ecosystems of Western Melbourne. Ivona joins the growing team of researchers, where she will bring her knowledge in conservation and coastal restoration as part of the #RegenOurCoasts program 🌱🌊     Welcome Ivona! Learn more about her work at https://lnkd.in/gekPfP9p 

🌍🔬 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀! 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. Led by Dr Omosalewa Odebiri, we found that fencing off farm dams reduces methane emissions by over 70% but also improves water quality with lower nitrogen-phosphorous levels and improved dissolved oxygen. Using our innovative mobile sensors called ‘Pondi’, we monitored greenhouse gases continuously, providing insights into seasonal impacts. This method offers a scalable solution to monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from one of the overlooked sources—farm dams. 💡📊Simple management changes like fencing can make farm dams sustainable, informing global strategies and local practices to combat climate change. 👩🔬🌾Our study highlights the importance of including farm dams in national carbon accounting and offers actionable strategies for environmental and economic benefits. Paper: (https://lnkd.in/gjnwS_eg) #Sustainability #ClimateAction #MethaneReduction #FarmDams #LivestockManagement #CarbonBudget  Omosalewa Odebiri I Jake Archbold I Joshua Glen I Peter Macreadie I Martino E. Malerba I Deakin Research