In Scotland, the amount of carbon stored in the marine and coastal environment is greater than all land-based ecosystems, such are forests and peatland, combined.
Carbon stored in the marine environment is called blue carbon. These habitats draw down and trap carbon from the atmosphere, helping to reduce climate change.
But the marine and coastal environment provides many more benefits. The stabilising effect of sand dunes helps reduce the impact of tidal surges and storms. Seagrass meadows provide habitat for juvenile fish and feeding grounds for many marine species, helping to improve fish stocks to support sustainable fishing and local communities.
The diversity of the marine environment has great potential for nature-based solutions.