Coastal habitats store carbon and protect natural and human communities from hazards. The Nicholas Institute is working on several projects to map coastal habitats’ contributions to coastal protection and climate mitigation (blue carbon storage) now and in the future under sea level rise. Modeling assesses how future sea level rise leads to loss and migration of salt marsh. This work can inform coastal planning, prioritization of habitats for conservation and restoration efforts, and tracking blue carbon in greenhouse gas inventories.
When managed sustainably, natural and working lands—including farms, forests, and wetlands—can store carbon, enhance community and ecosystem resilience, and provide many other social, economic and environmental benefits.