Scottish blue carbon action plan
Plan setting out how consideration of blue carbon habitats is being integrated into marine policies and priority actions to address key evidence gaps.
Ministerial Foreword
As Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, I am pleased to publish Scotland’s first Blue Carbon Action Plan.
Our seas have a crucial role to play in regulating the climate and tackling climate change. Blue carbon habitats are an important part of this, offering a marine nature based solution for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity.
From our saltmarsh habitats with unique salt tolerant plant species, to our seagrass meadows, kelp beds and expansive seafloor sediments, our blue carbon habitats represent nationally important stores of carbon, which have accumulated over thousands of years or longer. Understanding how these habitats function and their vulnerability to human and environmental impacts has been at the heart of Scottish Blue Carbon Forum research since 2018. I am proud of the progress we have made and the contribution of our great research institutions to developing this field of science. Scotland has led the way not just across the UK, but internationally, and our commitment to collaboration and knowledge exchange is reflected in the networks and partnerships we have made.
We have long known the importance of these habitats for biodiversity and for the ecosystem functions they provide, and this is reflected in the policies and actions we have taken to protect and restore these habitats already. However it is clear that we must consider the climate change mitigation potential as well, to ensure our actions and policies reflect all aspects of these habitats. It is also clear that many key evidence gaps remain to be filled. This plan sets out how we will do this, with a vision and objectives for how we integrate our growing understanding of blue carbon into both our future policy development and into delivery on the ground to protect and restore these habitats. Our commitment to protect and restore blue carbon habitats directly supports our efforts support a thriving and sustainable blue economy, including fishing and aquaculture sectors.
My thanks to the Scottish Blue Carbon Forum and to all who provided vital insights and expertise to support the development of this plan and for your ongoing commitment in support of our blue carbon habitats.
Gillian Martin MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy
Contact
Email: marineclimatechange@gov.scot