NatureMetrics’ Post

In the vast depths off Chile's coast, Schmidt Ocean Institute's recent seamounts expedition has unveiled extraordinary life forms, reminding us of the boundless mysteries our ocean holds. These discoveries push the frontiers of our understanding and underscore the urgent need for comprehensive ocean conservation. Chile's dedication to marine protection, including the ambitious 30x30 initiative, exemplifies global leadership in biodiversity conservation. It's a testament to how strategic commitments can safeguard our planet's most vital and vulnerable ecosystems. At the Bezos Earth Fund, we're committed to supporting the global 30x30 vision, aiming to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030. This commitment reflects our dedication to preserving the planet's natural wonders and ensuring a sustainable future for all. #30by30 #30x30 #OceanConservation

OCEANS ALIVE CONSERVATION TRUST OUR OCEANS • OUR FUTURE Open Brain Coral | Did You Know ? | Oceans Alive Conservation Trust The open brain coral (Trachyphyllia geoffroyi) is a brightly colored free-living coral species in the family Merulinidae. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Trachyphyllia and can be found throughout the Indo-Pacific. Open brain corals can be solitary or colonial. They are small corals, rarely reaching over 20 cm in diameter. They are free-living and exhibit a flabello-meandroid growth form, meaning they have distinct valley regions separated by walls. In colonial forms, the valley regions can contain multiple individual polyps. Complexity of valley regions can range; some are hourglass shaped while other cans be highly lobed. During the day when the polyp is closed, the coral is covered by a mantle that extends beyond the skeleton, but can retract when disturbed. The open brain coral is known to host a species of gall crab, Lithoscaptus semperi. The IUCN lists open brain corals as "near threatened" due to habitat loss and over-harvesting for the aquarium trade. OUR PLANET • OUR FUTURE "Caring for our Oceans" "Stronger Together" "Changing Lives" WITH THE PEOPLE • FOR THE PEOPLE www.oceans-alive.org #openbraincoral #coral #2023year #wildlife #marineecosystems #endangeredspecies #marinewildlife #respect #appreciation #ocean #animals #nature #laws #saveouroceans #saveourwildlife #saveourplanet #future #protection #conservation #today #follow

🐸 Wetlands may have a small footprint, making just around 6% of Earth's surface, but they are also the home for thousands of animals and a variety of 🌱 plant species. You may know them under many names, such as #marshes, #swamps, #bogs and #floodplains, however all of them fall under the scope of #wetlands. They can be found all over the globe, apart from Antarctica and are generally divided into 2 categories: coastal or inland. So, what makes wetlands so special? 🤔 🛡️ They protect against #floods and #purify #water 🐦 They are #biodiversity hotspots 🪺 They are  pit-stops to migratory birds, as well as nesting areas 🔒 They are #carbonsinks that, when destroyed, can become a major source of #greenhousegasemissions Restore4Life is dedicated to the protection and restoration of those amazing ecosystems. Through research, community engagement, and #sustainable practices, we'll work together to restore wetlands for a more sustainable future. Learn more 👉 https://lnkd.in/dkZkrRuf National Geographic University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) | Universitatea „Dunărea de Jos” din Galați | Rexdan Research Infrastructure | Faculty of Sciences | WWF-Romania | Doñana Biological Station - CSIC | Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) | Ministerul Mediului, Apelor si Padurilor | Archipelagos, Institute of Marine Conservation | F6S Innovation | viadonau EcoDaLLi Project | DANUBE4all Project | DaWetRest | DALIA Danube Lighthouse #DanubeLighthouse #MissionOcean #HorizonEurope

Why mapping the uncharted matters. Look at the picture in this post. What you see is an idyllic coast with blue sea and beautiful little islands and you imagine the sun shining on your face, smelling the intoxicating sea breeze whilst getting ready for a swim or going on a boat ride. Did you know that beneath the surface along our coastline lie hidden treasures waiting to be discovered? These submerged gems represent critical hope spots for biodiversity and the livelihood of countless communities. Did you know that beneath the surface along our coastline lie hidden garbage, toxins, ecosystems on the verge of extinction? These submerged dangers represent critical hotspots that threatens the biodiversity and ecosystems. Now look at the map in the picture. Each dot on the map holds immense potential, not only for unlocking the mysteries of our oceans but also for safeguarding the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. By shedding light on what lie beneath the surface, we pave the way for conservation efforts that can preserve biodiversity and support the livelihoods of coastal communities along our coastline. Mapping the coastal zone isn't just about filling in the blanks on a map. It's about protecting the very heartbeat of our oceans. To provide us with the knowledge we need in order to protect, restore and use our coastline responsibly and sustainably. Norwegian Mapping Authority, The Geological Survey of Norway and Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Norway, have applied to the government for funds to provide the knowledge base which enables us to see the consequences in the sea so that we can act accordingly. We call it marine basemaps in the coastal zone and our data will form the basis of a nature account at sea and enable us to meet the obligations Norway has entered into in the Sea Panel and in the Biodiversity Agreement. See more information on marine basemaps in the link ( https://lnkd.in/dWb9M5jb ) We can't MAINTAIN what we know NOTHING about. We can't SUSTAINABLY USE what we know NOTHING about. We can't PROTECT what we know NOTHING about. We can't RESTORE what we know NOTHING about. #marinegrunnkart #marinebasemaps #kystsoneforvaltning

12 hours ago, NOAA announced the fourth global coral bleaching event. This could be the largest coral bleaching event the world has ever seen. In the past year, over half of the world’s coral reefs have experienced heat stress that triggers bleaching and this number is expected to increase every week. Bleaching has been confirmed in 54 countries. In 2018, I was one of 20+ scientists who published the first map of the world’s ‘50 Reefs’ as a blueprint for global conservation efforts. This year, led by the Wildlife Conservation Society and Bloomberg Philanthropies, scientists will use the latest science and data to add new coral reef locations to this map. Expanding the portfolio of the world’s climate resilient coral reefs based on the latest science is critical to global efforts to protect 30% of the planet by 2030. Countries must prioritize the conservation and monitoring of climate resilient reefs in their national biodiversity action plans. What's the good news? - Some healthy coral reefs can escape and recover, even during a mass bleaching event. Coordinated science can find and prioritize these locations for conservation. - Last month, over 30 experts from the Coral Triangle came together to train on a shared method to monitor bleaching and contribute data to a global effort. They will be on the frontlines of this bleaching event over the next year. Expanding this network of scientists will bring critical data to efforts to track the impact and recovery of this latest bleaching event. - New technologies like MERMAID are connecting, scaling and accelerating coral reef monitoring efforts like never before to provide the data at the scale the world needs. While we are expecting to enter a cooler La Nina cycle next year, there’s only so many more chances we will get to take action on climate change. Read more in our response from WCS below ⬇ https://lnkd.in/gWW_Zg9Q

🐬 🐚 🦀 Let’s jump with us #ThreeStepsIntoTheSea! 🌊 🔎 📐 Scale is a key ingredient when assessing and studying #biodiversity: this is the key message of the #video just released by the #MARBEFES project, focusing on the #Baltic #Sea Broad Belt Transect (BBT).   ➡ Jan Marcin Węsławski, marine ecologist at The Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IO PAN) and MARBEFES General Project Coordinator, highlights the significance of studying biodiversity at various levels, while giving some insights of the biodiversity of the Gulf of Gdańsk (Zatoka Gdańska), coastal inlet of the Baltic Sea, in Northern Poland. ➡ These shallow waters are home to diverse species of 🐟 fish, 🐦 birds, and 🐳 🐬 marine mammals, including the iconic grey seal. Unfortunately, the Gulf of Gdańsk is currently experiencing many pressures which are leading to habitat degradation and biodiversity loss: #pollution (plastic, nutrients and various chemicals), intense #shipping, large-scale #tourism, increasing #urbanisation, #coastal #erosion, are all putting at risk this key and fragile habitat, and #climatechange is also taking its toll on the area.   👀 Watch the first “Meet the BBTs” video series, and explore current challenges faced by biodiversity in Europe! https://lnkd.in/dAbMyXXW

🌊 Diving into 'Seascape Restoration': A Global Conversation 🌊 Seascape restoration is more than a term; it's a vision for a healthier ocean that supports vibrant marine life and sustainable human communities. But what does it look like in practice, and how can we amplify our efforts for large-scale impact? As we navigate the currents of coastal ecosystem recovery, the inclusion of diverse voices, especially from outside the familiar waters of the US and Australia and western science, is crucial. It's the collective wisdom that will foster resilient and thriving marine habitats worldwide. Alice Howie, a PhD researcher at Macquarie University and Conservation Information Coordinator with The Nature Conservancy, Australia, is spearheading research to demystify the term 'seascape restoration'. Her goal? To progress the field towards resilient coastal ecosystems teeming with life and offering substantial benefits for both nature and society. 🔍 As part of her mission, Alice is seeking to understand the breadth and variety of innovative seascape restoration projects taking root across the globe. 🤝 We're reaching out to the LinkedIn community for insights: If you're involved in marine, ocean, or coastal habitat restoration, your perspective is invaluable. Take a brief moment to contribute to Alice's research and help shape the future of our oceans. 👉 Share your thoughts and insights: Participate in the Survey: https://lnkd.in/gMhNbBCT Together, let's chart a course for a more resilient and diverse seascapes! #SeascapeRestoration #MarineConservation #CoastalEcosystems #NatureBasedSolutions #CommunityEngagement #TNC #MarineBiology #OceanScience #Sustainability #Conservation #CallToAction

🌊 Exciting News from Cornwall! 🌿 In the news this week, one of the largest Maerl beds ever discovered in the UK has been found in Cornwall. This incredible find sheds light on our rich marine biodiversity and the importance of our coastal ecosystems. Maerl beds are not just ordinary underwater landscapes, they are living, breathing habitats formed by the accumulation of calcified seaweed over thousands of years. This recently discovered Maerl bed is estimated to be over 4000 years old, showing us the resilience and endurance of nature. What's even more remarkable is its size – spanning an area equivalent to a 900 rugby pitches (why is everything measured in pitches?). This discovery underscores the significance of our oceans and the need to further understand our vital underwater ecosystems. While Maerl beds may look more like purpley pink rocky carpets (I'll admit, I've only seen one on the isle of Skye) they're made out of calcified Seaweed, which plays a crucial role in marine life. It provides an important habitat for small invertebrates to commercially important fish species. Additionally, Maerl beds act as natural carbon sinks. The fact that we are only just making this discovery now, shows us how little we know about the oceans around us. #Cornwall #MaerlBeds #MarineConservation #SustainableOceanManagement #Biodiversity #Seaweed

12 hours ago, NOAA announced the fourth global coral bleaching event. This could be the largest coral bleaching event the world has ever seen. In the past year, over half of the world’s coral reefs have experienced heat stress that triggers bleaching and this number is expected to increase every week. Bleaching has been confirmed in 54 countries. In 2018, I was one of 20+ scientists who published the first map of the world’s ‘50 Reefs’ as a blueprint for global conservation efforts. This year, led by the Wildlife Conservation Society and Bloomberg Philanthropies, scientists will use the latest science and data to add new coral reef locations to this map. Expanding the portfolio of the world’s climate resilient coral reefs based on the latest science is critical to global efforts to protect 30% of the planet by 2030. Countries must prioritize the conservation and monitoring of climate resilient reefs in their national biodiversity action plans. What's the good news? - Some healthy coral reefs can escape and recover, even during a mass bleaching event. Coordinated science can find and prioritize these locations for conservation. - Last month, over 30 experts from the Coral Triangle came together to train on a shared method to monitor bleaching and contribute data to a global effort. They will be on the frontlines of this bleaching event over the next year. Expanding this network of scientists will bring critical data to efforts to track the impact and recovery of this latest bleaching event. - New technologies like MERMAID are connecting, scaling and accelerating coral reef monitoring efforts like never before to provide the data at the scale the world needs. While we are expecting to enter a cooler La Nina cycle next year, there’s only so many more chances we will get to take action on climate change. Read more in our response from WCS below ⬇