Towards Net Zero: The role of marine habitats

Key Messages
- Informed marine management is essential for leveraging blue carbon as a nature-based climate solution.
- Accurate mapping is crucial for identifying hotspots, guiding conservation efforts, and integrating blue carbon into marine management strategies.
- Modelling can help predict changes and inform restoration strategies.
- Local management measures in Shetland, such as closed areas, protect sensitive habitats and support blue carbon storage.
- Restoration efforts can enhance carbon sequestration and biodiversity support.
- Human activities and climate change pose threats like physical disturbance, ocean acidification, and warming.
- Mapping blue carbon facilitates informed marine management, contributing to global climate goals and coastal environment conservation.