NATURAL RESOURCES »» WETLANDS »» BLUE CARBON »» Dec 11, 2023

Carbon sinks are natural systems such as forests and oceans which absorb and store carbon dioxide. Plants consume atmospheric CO2 for photosynthesis, and some of this carbon is transferred to the soil as it dies and decomposes. Blue carbon is the carbon stored and sequestered in coastal ecosystems such as mangrove forests, tidal marshes, seagrasses, kelp forests and other tidal or salt-water wetlands. These plants sequester CO2 from the atmosphere, accumulate carbon in biomass for years or decades, and then transfer carbon to sediments where it can be stored for several thousand years. In a short time, new layers of soil accumulate, allowing for further plant growth and carbon sequestration. It is believed blue carbon ecosystems can sequester carbon at concentrations up to five times greater than that of forests. Advocates say 83% of the world’s carbon circulates through the ocean, and half of it is sequestered by these coastal habitats which make up only 2% of the world’s total ocean area. Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.2750 - Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act (117th Congress 2021-2022) Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR) I oppose reforming current blue carbon policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA). I support establishing an Interagency Working Group on Coastal Blue Carbon to: 1.) Strengthen federal research on blue carbon. 2.) Create a national map and inventory of coastal blue carbon ecosystems and their sequestration potential. 3.) Improve protections for existing coastal blue carbon ecosystems, with a national goal of conserving at least 30% of the ocean and coastal blue carbon ecosystems by 2030. 4.) Restore and expand degraded coastal blue carbon ecosystems. 5.) Assess the long-term effects of containment of carbon dioxide in a deep seafloor environment - on marine ecosystems. 6.) Provide for the long-term stewardship and standardization of coastal blue carbon data. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

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I support establishing an Interagency Working Group on Coastal Blue Carbon to: 1.) Strengthen federal research on blue carbon. 2.) Create a national map and inventory of coastal blue carbon ecosystems and their sequestration potential. 3.) Improve protections for existing coastal blue carbon ecosystems, with a national goal of conserving at least 30% of the ocean and coastal blue carbon ecosystems by 2030. 4.) Restore and expand degraded coastal blue carbon ecosystems. 5.) Assess the long-term effects of containment of carbon dioxide in a deep seafloor environment - on marine ecosystems. 6.) Provide for the long-term stewardship and standardization of coastal blue carbon data. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

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