A new study underscores the significant climate benefits of safeguarding surf breaks, revealing that these coastal ecosystems play a key role in carbon sequestration. The research, titled Conservation Opportunities Arise from the Co-Occurrence of Surfing and Key Biodiversity Areas, was led by Dan Reineman, an Associate Professor of Environmental Science & Resource Management at California State University, Channel Islands. The study highlights that protecting surf spots is not just about preserving recreational waves, but also about maintaining vital ecosystems that have broader environmental impacts.
“There’s a conservation opportunity ‘two-for’ here,” Reineman stated in a CSU Channel Islands article. “Many of the world’s surf breaks are located in areas that also contain critical, yet unprotected, ecosystems. Surfing—both as a recreational and tourism activity—offers an added incentive to protect these areas.”
Reineman’s work piqued the interest of Jacob Bukoski, an Assistant Professor of Forest Ecosystems & Society at Oregon State University. Bukoski expanded on the research, focusing on the significant role surf zones play in carbon capture. The two researchers discovered that these “surf ecosystems” store a remarkable 88 million metric tons of carbon.
“If you destroy these ecosystems, you cannot restore the carbon they hold by 2050,” Bukoski explained to Bloomberg. “This carbon would be lost forever for climate mitigation.”
The study’s scope extends beyond the U.S. West Coast. Reineman and Bukoski examined 4,830 surf breaks across 113 countries. Their findings revealed that 88.3 million metric tons of carbon are stored within a mile of a surf break globally. Of this, 17.2 million metric tons are found in Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) that currently lack formal protection. In the United States, expanding conservation efforts could prevent 13.7 million metric tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere—making it a larger opportunity than anywhere else.
This research provides critical evidence to support the preservation of surf spots worldwide, not only as a means of protecting recreational spaces but also as a strategic effort to combat climate change. The findings offer a compelling argument for expanding conservation measures at surf locations, demonstrating that preserving surf ecosystems benefits not just surfers, but the planet as a whole.
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