Frontiers in Marine Science (Apr 2024)
Upscaling marine forest restoration: challenges, solutions and recommendations from the Green Gravel Action Group
- Georgina Valentine Wood,
- Karen Filbee-Dexter,
- Karen Filbee-Dexter,
- Melinda Ann Coleman,
- Melinda Ann Coleman,
- Jurgen Valckenaere,
- J. David Aguirre,
- J. David Aguirre,
- Paige M. Bentley,
- Paul Carnell,
- Phoebe Damayanthi Dawkins,
- Lauren N. Dykman,
- Lauren N. Dykman,
- Hannah S. Earp,
- Hannah S. Earp,
- Leeann B. Ennis,
- Prue Francis,
- João N. Franco,
- Hilary Hayford,
- Joleah B. Lamb,
- Scott Douglas Ling,
- Cayne Layton,
- Cayne Layton,
- Ella Lis,
- Ella Lis,
- Beau Masters,
- Beau Masters,
- Nicole Miller,
- Pippa Jane Moore,
- Chris Neufeld,
- Chris Neufeld,
- Jacqueline B. Pocklington,
- Dan Smale,
- Florian Stahl,
- Samuel Starko,
- Samuel Starko,
- S. Clay Steel,
- Jan Verbeek,
- Adriana Vergés,
- Catherine M. Wilding,
- Thomas Wernberg,
- Thomas Wernberg
Affiliations
- Georgina Valentine Wood
- University of Western Australia (UWA) Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- Karen Filbee-Dexter
- University of Western Australia (UWA) Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- Karen Filbee-Dexter
- Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
- Melinda Ann Coleman
- University of Western Australia (UWA) Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- Melinda Ann Coleman
- Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia
- Jurgen Valckenaere
- University of Western Australia (UWA) Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- J. David Aguirre
- The School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- J. David Aguirre
- School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
- Paige M. Bentley
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Paul Carnell
- Deakin Marine Research and Innovation Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Queenscliff, VIC, Australia
- Phoebe Damayanthi Dawkins
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Lauren N. Dykman
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Lauren N. Dykman
- 0The Kelp Rescue Initiative and Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Bamfield, BC, Canada
- Hannah S. Earp
- 1The Dove Marine Laboratory, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom
- Hannah S. Earp
- 2Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
- Leeann B. Ennis
- 3British Columbia Conservation Foundation, Vital Kelp Co., Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada
- Prue Francis
- Deakin Marine Research and Innovation Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Queenscliff, VIC, Australia
- João N. Franco
- 4MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET – Aquatic Research Network, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, Peniche, Portugal
- Hilary Hayford
- 5Puget Sound Restoration Fund, Bainbridge Island, WA, United States
- Joleah B. Lamb
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Scott Douglas Ling
- 6Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- Cayne Layton
- 6Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- Cayne Layton
- 7Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- Ella Lis
- The School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Ella Lis
- School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
- Beau Masters
- The School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Beau Masters
- School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
- Nicole Miller
- 8Project Baseline, Wellington, New Zealand
- Pippa Jane Moore
- 1The Dove Marine Laboratory, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom
- Chris Neufeld
- 0The Kelp Rescue Initiative and Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Bamfield, BC, Canada
- Chris Neufeld
- 9Department of Biology, University of British Columbia (Okanagan), Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Jacqueline B. Pocklington
- Deakin Marine Research and Innovation Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Queenscliff, VIC, Australia
- Dan Smale
- 0Benthic Ecosystems and Environmental Change, Marine Biological Association of the UK, Plymouth, United Kingdom
- Florian Stahl
- 1Marine Botany, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Samuel Starko
- University of Western Australia (UWA) Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- Samuel Starko
- 0The Kelp Rescue Initiative and Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Bamfield, BC, Canada
- S. Clay Steel
- 0The Kelp Rescue Initiative and Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Bamfield, BC, Canada
- Jan Verbeek
- 2SeaForester Lda, Cascais, Portugal
- Adriana Vergés
- 3School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Catherine M. Wilding
- 0Benthic Ecosystems and Environmental Change, Marine Biological Association of the UK, Plymouth, United Kingdom
- Thomas Wernberg
- University of Western Australia (UWA) Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- Thomas Wernberg
- Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1364263
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 11
Abstract
IntroductionTo counteract the rapid loss of marine forests globally and meet international commitments of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the Convention on Biological Diversity ‘30 by 30’ targets, there is an urgent need to enhance our capacity for macroalgal restoration. The Green Gravel Action Group (GGAG) is a global network of 67 members that are working on the restoration of a diverse range of macroalgal forests and it aims to facilitate knowledge exchange to fast-track innovation and implementation of outplanting approaches worldwide. MethodsHere, we overview 25 projects conducted by members of the group that are focused on testing and developing techniques for macroalgal restoration. Based on these projects, we summarise the major challenges associated with scaling up the area of marine forests restored. ResultsWe identify several critical challenges that currently impede more widespread rollout of effective large-scale macroalgal restoration worldwide: 1) funding and capacity limitations, 2) difficulties arising from conditions at restoration sites, 3) technical barriers, and 4) challenges at the restoration-policy interface. DiscussionDespite these challenges, there has been substantial progress, with an increasing number of efforts, community engagement and momentum towards scaling up activities in recent years. Drawing on the collective expertise of the GGAG, we outline key recommendations for the scaling up of restoration efforts to match the goals of international commitments. These include the establishment of novel pathways to fund macroalgal restoration activities, building skills and capacity, harnessing emerging innovations in mobile hatchery and seeding technologies, and the development of the scientific and governance frameworks necessary to implement and monitor macroalgal restoration projects at scale.
Keywords
