Protect and Preserve

Our coastal ocean environments are beautiful and productive, but they are in serious trouble.  Here are ways people can help protect and preserve the blue ocean ecosystems.

Choosing to plant mangroves instead of building a parking lot can make a difference. More than a quarter of the world's mangroves, which are special ocean vegetation, have been lost over the last 50 years. Mangrove Trees and Shrubs have extensive root systems that filter nutrients and provide habitat and breeding grounds for fish and other species. They also stabilize by buffering the ocean's impact, making the land less vulnerable to storms and flooding.

Assisting with research, repairing and replanting damaged areas, and safeguarding what remains are ways we can contribute. It's crucial to protect and preserve the ocean ecosystem now, as atmospheric carbon dioxide increases and conditions like flooding will only worsen. Protecting these areas helps slow coastal flooding and safeguards our fishing and recreational ocean activities.

While national and international efforts are important, influencing policy in your local community is likely the most meaningful and immediate step you can take to mitigate climate change. We will experience the consequences of climate change for most of our lives. The choices we make today will have effects that last for centuries and will especially affect younger generations. 

As the ocean continues to warm, sea level continues to rise, and the ocean gets more acidic - all at unprecedented rates – there’s an urgent need to protect these blue ecosystems, which are powerful climate champions. Protecting and preserving significantly complements other climate approaches by offering a nature-based solution for long-term carbon storage. Let the beauty of the ocean environment inspire you. Don’t let the tide run out on blue ocean ecosystems. You can influence policy, and YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!