Kelp Forest Foundation

🌊 🌱 Newsflash: We’re a proud recipient of the Global Seaweed Coalition 2024 grant! 🌱🌊 This generous funding will be instrumental in advancing our ocean acidification impact project. So… what is this project about?  🌿 Ocean acidification is a serious problem for our marine ecosystems.  🌿 As oceans absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere, they become more acidic, creating a chemical imbalance that harms our marine life. 🌿 For example, shellfish have issues forming their shells!  🌿 Kelp can save the day: it can store locally available carbon from the surrounding waters in its biomass, with the potential to create a safe haven for these species, where the water is more suitable to live. So, our study aims to answer: to what extent is kelp able to help combat ocean acidification? With GSC’s support, we will acquire state-of-the-art autonomous sensors and analytical instruments, enabling us to create a comprehensive ocean acidification monitoring program. This project will be conducted in Lüderitz, Namibia, and aims to provide more insight into the benefits of healthy kelp forests. The Global Seaweed Coalition is dedicated to fostering a safe and sustainable seaweed industry worldwide, and we are honored to be part of this mission. Together, we can significantly impact our oceans and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future. Stay tuned for updates as we embark on this exciting journey! 🌍 🌊 #KelpForestFoundation #GlobalSeaweedCoalition #OceanConservation #SustainableSeaweed #OceanAcidification #LuderitzNamibia #MarineScience #InnovativeResearch

🌿 Can local knowledge and science help restore Chile's kelp forests? Yes, it can! 👉 Learn more about the collaboration between researchers and local fishers and communities in Chile, where kelp forests are slowly being restored after facing industrial pollution. 🤝 Swipe through to discover how community, science, and cooperation can turn the tide for kelp forests in Chile and beyond. 🌿 At KFF, we advance kelp research and advocate for kelp forest conservation through community support, advocacy, and science. Help us protect these vital ecosystems: https://lnkd.in/eXfeKAvd Article: https://lnkd.in/dC2hPz5y #UnlockingThePowerOfKelp #marinescience #Sustainability #Climate

🌿 KFF Research Update: Jens Bjørnstad’s biodiversity study of the Falkland Islands’ kelp forests Over the past few months, Jens has been diving into the world of eDNA analysis—unpacking biodiversity patterns in kelp forests using data from NatureMetrics. His work is helping to organize and interpret key ecological insights from sites in the Falkland Islands, supporting our understanding of how marine life varies across different kelp ecosystems. 🔬 How do we measure biodiversity? Jens has been applying several scientific methods to make sense of eDNA data: 📌 Shannon Index – Helps assess overall biodiversity and ecosystem balance. 📌 Jaccard Similarity Index – Compares species composition across kelp forests. 📌 Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) – Creates visual maps of biodiversity differences across sites. His findings will shed light on ecosystem health, species distribution, and regional biodiversity shifts—crucial information for conservation and restoration efforts. 🌊 In collaboration with Dr. Narissa Bax, who has collected the data key to this groundbreaking study. #MarineScience #Kelp #eDNA #Biodiversity #UnlockingThePowerOfKelp #OceanHealth #Climate #Ocean

🌿 Intern Update: Juliette Brèche on Valuing Kelp Ecosystem Services It’s been just over two months since Juliette Brèche joined us at Kelp Forest Foundation, and she’s been diving deep into the complexities of ecosystem valuation for kelp forests. As she nears the completion of her calculations, she’s gaining a clearer understanding of the different approaches—and the challenges—of quantifying kelp’s value, especially its indirect role in sectors like tourism in Norway. 💡 "I’m more and more amazed by what kelp can do—how versatile and beautiful this organism is, and how crucial it is to restore it." Through her research, Juliette is exploring how kelp contributes to Norway’s coastal economy: for example, enhancing biodiversity that supports marine tourism. Juliette is also enjoying getting to know Norway's natural ecosystems and how they approach ecosystem governance. Her next step will be refining her findings through expert interviews and finalizing her approach to deliver a comprehensive report by March. We’re grateful for her passion, curiosity, and dedication to advancing kelp science! 🌿 #MarineScience #Kelp #EcosystemServices #Climate #Ocean

🌿 Meet Peru’s underwater kelp forests! These vibrant marine ecosystems support local communities, biodiversity and house hundreds of species — but they are under threat. Swipe through to learn about Peru’s kelp forests, their ecosystem significance, their challenges, and what is being done to protect them. At KFF, we’re advancing kelp research, supporting coastal communities, and advocating for better governance to secure the survival of these delicate ecosystems. Let’s make a difference together: link to donate Article: https://lnkd.in/gEzNnu3V #UnlockingThePowerOfKelp #marinescience #Sustainability #Climate

🌊 We've received a UN Ocean Decade Endorsement! 🌊 🌿 Our Blue House Fellowship Program has been officially endorsed as part of the UN Ocean Decade under the program “No. 172 Global Ecosystem for Ocean Solutions (#GEOS),” spearheaded by Ocean Visions. 🔬 The Blue House Fellowship Program equips students, researchers, and early-career professionals from coastal communities to further their careers in the marine sciences. Through this program, we sponsor MSc. studies in the fields of ocean acidification, marine biodiversity, and carbon sequestration potential in relation to kelp forests. This research is essential to discovering how kelp forests can help us restore our oceans and support local economies and communities. 🌊 As part of the GEOS program, the Blue House Program aligns with the UN Ocean Decade’s vision of “the science we need for the ocean we want,” while tackling global challenges like biodiversity loss, ocean restoration, and sustainable livelihoods. 🤝 We’re excited to work alongside other incredible organizations committed to the Ocean Decade to advance nature-based solutions for our oceans and planet. #UNOceanDecade #GEOS #BlueHouseFellowship #UnlockingThePowerOfKelp #Kelp #Climate

🌊 Our latest quarterly progress report is here! KFF scholars continued pushing the boundaries of kelp and marine science: 👉 Paula Sacheus attended the prestigious IAEA Winter School in Monaco, exploring ocean acidification. Organized by the Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre (OA-ICC) and co-sponsored by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the program brought together early-career scientists to understand how multiple environmental stressors interact to affect marine ecosystems. 👉 Dortea NK Hamukoto mapped marine life colonization in kelp forests 👉 PhD student Gadaffi Liswaniso advanced carbon sequestration research at KAUST 👉 Lüderitz Blue School students explored marine science through hands-on learning 👉 Our kelp research collaboration with NatureMetrics, Cawthron Institute, and Sequench progressed: we collected samples from Namibia’s kelp forests to identify kelp’s unique fingerprint, tracing its journey through the ocean and understanding its role in long-term carbon storage. The findings could be a game-changer for recognizing kelp forests as blue carbon ecosystems, alongside mangroves and seagrass. Together, we’re unlocking the power of kelp. Join our mission and fund groundbreaking research directly via our website, or through 1% for the Planet 🌱 Check out the report below. #UnlockingThePowerOfKelp #KelpRestoration #OceanHealth #ClimateAction #MarineScience

🔬 Behind the scenes of marine science in Lüderitz! 🌿 As part of her MSc program, KFF scholar Dortea NK Hamukoto has been diving deep into the hidden communities within kelp forests. Through quarterly sample collection from both cultivated kelp farms and natural kelp forests, she’s working to uncover the diversity of sessile species – the organisms that attach themselves to underwater structures. 🌿 In this video, Dortea is identifying mussel species, and measuring their biomass to understand how marine life colonizes new surfaces. One challenge has been identifying young mussels (or mussel spat) at their earliest stages. To achieve this, Dortea has been collaborating with the University of Johannesburg for specialized DNA analyses. 👉 Dortea’s research is a step toward understanding the critical role kelp farms play in supporting marine biodiversity and fostering dynamic ecosystems. Stay tuned for updates as she continues piecing together the intricate puzzle of marine life! Want to help us uncover the hidden benefits of kelp? Consider donating via our website, or through 1% for the Planet. #MarineScience #KelpForests #OceanResearch #Biodiversity

Our MD Roy Budjhawan bumped into our NatureMetrics partner Kat Bruce at World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025! We're currently working together on an exciting research project using environmental DNA (eDNA) to track giant kelp's carbon potential. Our team is working with Cawthron Institute and Sequench to develop cutting-edge techniques to detect kelp's unique genetic 'fingerprint' in marine sediments. By using advanced qPCR and ddPCR methods, we're getting closer to understanding exactly how much carbon these underwater forests can capture and store. As the world seeks innovative nature-based solutions to combat climate change, kelp forests could be a promising carbon sink, offering a natural approach to climate mitigation. Want to help us unlock the power of kelp and discover its potential as a nature-based climate remediation solution? Consider donating directly or via 1% for the Planet. #MarineConservation #Davos #ClimateAction #OceanScience #Sustainability

🌊 Check out our team on their marine monitoring excursions at the kelp forests in Namibia!   At KFF, our team conducts coastal monitoring twice a month, focusing on natural kelp forests near the cultivated kelp farms. This process helps us understand the potential impacts of cultivated kelp on water quality, biodiversity, and the health of neighboring marine ecosystems.   💧 What are we looking for? - Changes in water quality that inform broader environmental studies. - Shifts in biodiversity, from species numbers to ecosystem balance. - Any measurable effects of farming on nearby natural kelp forests. This hands-on, collaborative work is not only critical for ensuring environmental compliance but also feeds directly into biodiversity research at the foundation, where KFF scholars are hard at work to discover the impacts of kelp forests on our environment, and whether they might hold the key to nature-based solutions to help us restore our planet.   🌿 Learn more about our work and how you can support this vital research 👉 https://lnkd.in/eXfeKAvd   Michael Mateus, Dortea NK Hamukoto   #UnlockingThePowerOfKelp #OceanHealth #Sustainability #Biodiversity