Written Question · S5W-06640 · Session 5
In light of the potential for blue carbon habitats to store and sequester carbon, for what reason the protection and restoration of these h…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential for blue carbon habitats to store and sequester carbon, for what reason the protection and restoration of these habitats is not included in the draft Climate Change Plan.
The answer
The Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) have been working to assess the extent and potential of blue carbon in Scotland. In 2014 SNH published an initial assessment of blue carbon stores in Scotland’s coastal and marine environment, and further research to estimate the blue carbon resources in Scotland’s inshore marine Protected Areas (MPAs) was published on 3 February.
See http://www.snh.gov.uk/publications-data-and-research/publications/search-the-catalogue/publication-detail/?id=2176 and www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/commissioned_reports/957.pdf for details.
This latest ground-breaking research provides much greater insight into the potential stocks of blue carbon in Scotland’s marine environment. Nevertheless further research is required to provide credible estimates of the sequestration provided by blue carbon across the entirety of Scotland’s Seas, which is why there aren’t detailed policies and proposals within the draft Climate Change Plan. The Scottish Government is now considering further research and survey opportunities to develop our understanding of blue carbon, and will include an update of this work in the Final Climate Change Plan.
Since the publication of the Second report on Policies and Proposals (RPP2), the key inshore blue carbon habitats have been listed as Priority Marine Features in 2014, and given protection by General policy 9 of the National Marine Plan, which was adopted in March 2015. These blue carbon habitats are also well represented in the MPA network. The development of the MPA network required survey effort which has improved our knowledge of blue carbon habitat distribution around Scotland. Work is continuing to complete the MPA network and put in place to management measures to safeguard these important habitats. As knowledge evolves, marine policies that protect blue carbon habitats may be adapted to enhance that protection.
See http://www.snh.gov.uk/publications-data-and-research/publications/search-the-catalogue/publication-detail/?id=2176 and www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/commissioned_reports/957.pdf for details.
This latest ground-breaking research provides much greater insight into the potential stocks of blue carbon in Scotland’s marine environment. Nevertheless further research is required to provide credible estimates of the sequestration provided by blue carbon across the entirety of Scotland’s Seas, which is why there aren’t detailed policies and proposals within the draft Climate Change Plan. The Scottish Government is now considering further research and survey opportunities to develop our understanding of blue carbon, and will include an update of this work in the Final Climate Change Plan.
Since the publication of the Second report on Policies and Proposals (RPP2), the key inshore blue carbon habitats have been listed as Priority Marine Features in 2014, and given protection by General policy 9 of the National Marine Plan, which was adopted in March 2015. These blue carbon habitats are also well represented in the MPA network. The development of the MPA network required survey effort which has improved our knowledge of blue carbon habitat distribution around Scotland. Work is continuing to complete the MPA network and put in place to management measures to safeguard these important habitats. As knowledge evolves, marine policies that protect blue carbon habitats may be adapted to enhance that protection.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S5W-06640 by reference.