With reference to the Blue Carbon Ecosystem, consider the following st...
- The coastal ecosystems of mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrass meadows provide numerous benefits and services that are essential for climate change adaptation along coasts globally, including protection from storms and sea-level rise, prevention of shoreline erosion, regulation of coastal water quality, provision of habitat for commercially important fisheries and endangered marine species, and food security for many coastal communities. Additionally, these ecosystems sequester and store significant amounts of coastal blue carbon from the atmosphere and ocean and hence are now recognized for their role in mitigating climate change.
- Coastal blue carbon ecosystems are found along the coasts of every continent except Antarctica. Mangroves grow in the intertidal zone of tropical and subtropical shores. Countries with the highest areas of mangroves include Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Nigeria, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Cuba, India, Bangladesh, and Mozambique.
- The Coastal Blue Carbon Ecosystems are very efficient at sequestering and storing carbon- each square mile of these systems can remove carbon from the atmosphere and oceans at a rate higher than each square mile of a tropical forest. Hence statement 1 is correct
- The Blue Carbon Initiative is the first integrated program focused on mitigating climate change by conserving, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of coastal marine ecosystems globally. The Initiative currently focuses on mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrasses. It is an international collaborative effort of the Conservation International, International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission of the UNESCO. Hence statement 2 is correct.
With reference to the Blue Carbon Ecosystem, consider the following st...
The correct answer is option C: Both 1 and 2.
Explanation:
1. The carbon sequestering capacity of a coastal blue carbon ecosystem is more than those of tropical forests:
Coastal blue carbon ecosystems, such as mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses, have a high capacity to sequester and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They capture carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and store it in their biomass and sediments. These ecosystems have a unique ability to store carbon for long periods of time, sometimes even centuries. Studies have shown that the carbon sequestering capacity of coastal blue carbon ecosystems can be even higher than that of tropical forests. This is because these ecosystems can store carbon in both above-ground and below-ground biomass, as well as in their sediments.
2. The Blue Carbon Initiative for securing the Blue Carbon Ecosystem is an initiative of Conservation International:
The Blue Carbon Initiative is a global program that aims to protect and restore coastal blue carbon ecosystems for their climate change mitigation and adaptation benefits. It was launched in 2009 by Conservation International, along with other partners such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The initiative works towards raising awareness, conducting research, and developing policy and financing mechanisms to support the conservation and restoration of coastal blue carbon ecosystems. It also aims to integrate blue carbon into international climate change and biodiversity agendas.
In conclusion, both statements are correct. Coastal blue carbon ecosystems have a higher carbon sequestering capacity than tropical forests, and the Blue Carbon Initiative is indeed an initiative of Conservation International.
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