SeaForester

SeaForester

Seaweed forests are among one of the most productive habitats on earth, with a lot of associated benefits that include climate change mitigation, due to rapid carbon capture rates, or ocean biodiversity loss prevention. However, these have been decreasing at incredibly fast rates all across the world, and Portugal is no exception.

SeaForester project responds to this issue, aiming by restoring seaweed forests, to improve ocean health around those habitats. A healthy ocean with capacity to support more marine life is a key factor for a sustainable blue economy that will benefit any coastline local authority or maritime business.

Through a combination of scientific research, citizen science and community engagement, this project will provide the first step towards enhancing the health and value of Cascais’ blue front yard. The project was developed to: i) assess the historic and current status of seaweed populations; ii) identify potential environmental stressors that inhibit the natural recovery of seaweeds; iii) test best seeding techniques for endemic seaweeds and iv) develop a plan for future seaforestation activities in Cascais.