Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe, SeaForester, and other partners have kicked off an ocean restoration programme to help tackle marine biodiversity loss in Europe.

Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe, SeaForester and other partners have kicked off an ocean restoration programme to help tackle marine biodiversity loss in Europe.

PRESS RELEASE: SeaForester joins forces with Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe and other expert organisations, aiming to restore 1,500 hectares of marine habitats by 2030  

FEBRUARY 28TH, PORTUGAL: Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe, SeaForester and other expert organisations have kicked off an ocean restoration programme to help tackle marine biodiversity loss in Europe. Ocean health and marine life are under threat as a result of climate change and human activities.

Purina Europe is partnering with SeaForester and other expert ocean restoration organisations to help restore more than 1,500 hectares of marine habitats by 2030. Fish is part of Purina’s supply chain because it uses fish by-products, which are parts of fish that are not consumed by humans but provide a valuable ingredient in pet food, so that nothing goes to waste.     

SeaForester, an environmental impact company based in Portugal, has emerged as a key player in the global movement to restore seaweed ecosystems. SeaForester is developing innovative seaforestation techniques and mobile seaweed nurseries to bring back seaweed forests and boost the value of coastal regions around the world.  

Purina is investing in its partners’ ocean restoration solutions across Europe to make these effective and scalable. Each partner targets species that contribute to restoring the locally critical marine habitats that are being lost. The first phase of the programme will last three years and prioritises the development of research, a measurement framework and the conditions to scale up the restoration solutions efficiently. The second phase is planned to start in 2026 and will focus on scaling the proven solutions.  

All these solutions have been piloted in various locations and have the potential to be scaled. They are supported by scientific research and renowned academic organisations and place a strong emphasis on community and local stakeholder engagement. An important feature of the programme is to address the common challenges that the restoration partner organisations typically face. Collaboration between the partners in this programme will help advance science and methodologies in marine habitat restoration. Effective marine habitat restoration requires a collective effort. Therefore, Purina is also working with a number of advisory partners* supporting the programme.

Restoration efforts will take place in France (Arcachon Bay), the Netherlands (including Zeeland), Norway (Tromsø), and Portugal (Cascais & Peniche), while additional sites in Germany and the UK are being developed.

Kerstin Schmeiduch, Head of Corporate Communications and Sustainability at Purina Europe, said: “I am delighted that we are embarking on our first ocean restoration programme, which takes a system-based approach to restoring marine habitats. Ocean health is essential to the health of our planet and to ensuring the resilience of our supply chain, since fish by-products are key ingredients for Purina. At Purina Europe we know that we cannot solve this challenge alone, and so we look forward to helping promote marine biodiversity in collaboration with our group of expert partners across Europe.”

Pål Bakken, Founder and CEO of SeaForester, said: “We are excited to be joining Purina Europe’s Ocean Restoration Programme to tackle one of the world’s most pressing challenges – the restoration of our natural habitats. Our ambitions align perfectly with Purina Europe´s broader commitment to help advance the regeneration of ocean ecosystems. This project demonstrates how a partnership between a large industry player and organisations dedicated to the restoration of natural ecosystems can work together to provide a business case for the sustainable use of our ocean. We hope this initiative also will encourage other companies to act  – to start planting trees in the ocean and not only on land.”  

Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe believes that when people and pets bond, life becomes richer. This is why, for more than 125 years, it has been committed to creating richer lives for pets and the people who love them through high-quality nutrition and care.

With the ambition of becoming Europe’s most trusted pet care company, Purina Europe aims to have a positive impact on pets, people, and the planet. In 2022, the company launched six new Purina Commitments (2023-2030) to help reach this goal, to support adoption and responsible pet ownership, help the wellbeing of people in vulnerable situations and support the regeneration of soil and ocean ecosystems.The Purina portfolio includes many of the best-known and best-loved pet foods including Felix®, PurinaONE®, Gourmet® and Pro Plan®.

For more information about the company, visit the Purina website: https://www.purina.eu/

More information on Purina Europe’s Ocean Restoration Programme and Purina’s Commitments can be found here

WSL teamed up with WSL PURE grantee Hope Zones Foundation and SeaForester to advance seaforestation in Portugal.

WSL teamed up with WSL PURE grantee Hope Zones Foundation, led by WSL Big Wave surfer João Macedo, and SeaForester to advance seaforestation in Portugal. They will be working throughout the year to enhance kelp resources in the coastal area of Nazaré and Peniche for the benefits of nature and society.

Kelp forests are highly productive ecosystems that contribute to enhancing local biodiversity, absorb CO2 and provide potential avenues for alternative food systems. By using native kelp species (Laminaria ochroleuca), Hope Zones and SeaForester will be promoting the recovery of ecosystems currently in decline, resulting in many ecological and social benefits for the local community that can be applied globally by coastal communities around the world.

For the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal presented by Corona, We Are One Ocean teamed up with Hope Zones Foundation and SeaForester to host a kelp restoration workshop. Participants built deployment structures to plant kelp and engaged with youth participants from Peniche Surf Clube in an ocean literacy session with Monitoramento Mirim Costeiro. - WSL / MANEL GAEDA

For the MEO Pro Portugal, WSL teamed up with Hope Zones Foundation and SeaForester to build deployment structures to plant kelp while engaging youth participants from Peniche Surf Clube in an ocean literacy session with Monitoramento Mirim Costeiro. With the WSL PURE grant these groups will be working together to plant, monitor, research and share the benefits of seaweed reforestation projects – an inspiration for other coastlines globally.

Kanoa Igarashi alongside Shiseido volunteers team up to build deployment structures with advice from Jan Verbeek, Scientific Manager at SeaForester.- WSL / MANEL GAEDA

Link to original article: https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/512754/hope-lies-beneath

Politecnico de Leiria is now opening applications for (one) scientific research fellowship (BI) within the project Seaforester Peniche

Fellowship Position at MARE-IPLeiria on kelp forest restoration

. SCIENTIFIC AREA: Marine Biology or related areas.

. RECIPIENTS: Graduates or Masters enrolled in non-academic degree courses

. DURATION: 12 months, starting on 2/2023.

. WORK PLAN: Preparation and maintenance of algae cultivation systems, participation in macroalgae monitoring campaigns on the coast of Portugal and in macroalgae restocking procedures (Kelp) using boats and underwater diving with scuba diving equipment. Preparation of monthly and annual reports.

. WORKPLACE AND SCIENTIFIC SUPERVISION: The work will be developed at the MARE-Polytechnic of Leiria, under the supervision of Professor João Nuno dos Reis Franco.

Follow this link to the official job posting.

SeaForester is one of three finalists in the Revive Our Oceans category, competing against a women-led Indigenous Australian group that is helping to protect the Great Barrier Reef and a Dutch initiative that has developed a technique to use a curtain of bubbles to intercept plastics before they reach oceans. 

SeaForester in DEUTSCHE WELLE article about the Earthshot Prize

A greenhouse in a box and a kelp forest restoration project are just two contenders in this year’s Earthshot environmental prize in Boston. Prince William will award five groups £1 million each to expand their projects.

Link to the news article: https://www.dw.com/en/prince-william-set-to-award-2022-earthshot-prize/a-63937800

Prince William and The Earthshot Prize revealed the 2022 Earthshot Prize winners – an accomplished group of entrepreneurs and innovators spearheading ground-breaking solutions to repair and regenerate the planet.

The Earthshot Prize 2022 Awards in Boston 

Each winner was awarded a £1 million prize at the second-annual Earthshot Prize awards ceremony, which will be broadcast Sunday, December 4 at 17:30pm GMT on BBC and will begin streaming on Monday, December 5 at 2:00pm EST on PBS.org and the PBS app.

All 15 Finalists who featured in the ceremony will receive tailored support from The Earthshot Prize Global Alliance, an unrivalled network of world-leading philanthropies, NGOs, and private sector businesses around the world who will help scale their solutions. Support could include access to resources across numerous professions including manufacturing, retail, supply chains, legal advice, digital technology, business strategy and government relations. The Earthshot Prize team is in discussions with all finalists about the support they need which could include business strategy, further investment, or advice on growing their leadership platforms.

The Earthshot Prize 2022 - Full Awards with Prince William, Billie Eilish, David Attenborough & More

Following a rigorous selection process focused on identifying the most inspirational, impactful, and inclusive solutions, the five 2022 winners are:

Clean our Air: Mukuru Clean Stoves, Kenya – A start-up providing cleaner-burning stoves to women in Kenya to reduce unhealthy indoor pollution and provide a safer way to cook.

Protect and Restore Nature: Kheyti, India – A pioneering solution for local smallholder farmers to reduce costs, increase yields and protect livelihoods in a country on the frontlines of climate change.

Revive our Oceans: Indigenous Women of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia – An inspiring women led program that combines 60,000 years of indigenous knowledge with digital technologies to protect land and sea.

Build a Waste-free World: Notpla, United Kingdom – A circular solution creating an alternative to plastic packaging from seaweed.

Fix our Climate: 44.01, Oman – Created by childhood friends who have developed an innovative technique to turn CO2 into rock, and permanently store it underground.

O prémio ambiental "The Earthshot Prize", criado pelo Príncipe William, arranca numa nova edição, tendo na organização a Casa do Impacto. Na atual edição, o português SeaForester é um dos finalistas.

Lançado em 2020, pelo Príncipe William e pela The Royal Foundation, o The Earthshot Prize é um prémio ambiental a nível global que tem como objetivo encontrar novas soluções para os maiores problemas ambientais do mundo. The Earthshot Prize tem 5 milhões de libras para apoiar projetos ambientais.

Na nova edição da iniciativa, a portuguesa Casa do Impacto volta a ser um dos nomeadores oficiais (“official nominator”) deste prémio ambiental, considerado um dos mais prestigiados do mundo.

O projeto SeaForester, nomeado pela Casa do Impacto, concorre com mais dois finalistas para o prémio na categoria Revive Our Oceans e é o único projeto português em concurso. A startup desenvolveu uma forma de replantar o oceano e restaurar os ecossistemas de algas marinhas usando técnicas inovadoras de florestação marinha.

Link to the news article: https://www.forbespt.com/premio-ambiental-lancado-pelo-principe-william-nomeia-projeto-portugues-como-finalista-e-convida-casa-do-impacto-para-a-organizacao/?fbclid=PAAaadVap4uroHDYvDKv0frdzwKF0TtRf8it2Uc8ZNY8zLudF7v7MtmkJObdY

Launched in 2020 by HRH Prince William, The Earthshot Prize is the world’s most prestigious environmental prize. Following a rigorous, 10-month selection process, a panel of advisors with expertise in science, conservation, innovation, investment, economics, politics and activism selected SeaForester from more than 1,000 nominations. SeaForester is introducing a truly cutting-edge breakthrough in seaweed restoration that can revive the ocean’s forgotten forests.  

PRESS RELEASE: Prince Willian unveils SeaForester as a finalist for the second annual Earthshot Prize Awards

November 4, 2022 — Today, Prince William and The Earthshot Prize revealed SeaForester as one of the 3 Finalists for the second inaugural Revive Our Oceans Earthshot for the restoration of seaweed forests. 

Seaweed is a powerful tool for capturing carbon, absorbing more CO2 than trees. Once planted, these underwater forests reverse acidification, build up depleted fish stocks, boost marine biodiversity, improve water quality and – crucially – capture carbon. However, rising sea temperatures, pollution, coastal developments and other factors are decimating these underwater carbon sinks.

In the past 50 years, half of the earth’s kelp forests have disappeared from our coastlines. These once vast underwater jungles have been reduced to expanses of bare rock. Not only are they unable to store carbon, but the loss of seaweed has destroyed marine ecosystems and wiped out local fishing industries.

Luckily, this process is reversible. The team at SeaForester utilizes an ingenious solution: “green gravel”. Unlike trees, seaweed needs no soil or fertiliser. Seaweed spores are seeded onto small stones and scattered into the ocean. The stones latch on to the underlying reef, the seaweed grows and multiplies, spreading across the ocean floor. The seaweed forest returns.

Unlike past efforts to restore marine habitats, green gravel is cost-effective and easy to replicate at scale. 

SeaForester will be in the running to receive a £1 million award at the second-annual Earthshot Prize awards ceremony. The Prize takes inspiration from President John F. Kennedy’s ‘Moonshot,’ which united millions of people around an organising goal to put man on the moon and catalysed the development of new technology in the 1960s.

Prince William said: “The innovators, leaders, and visionaries that make up our 2022 Earthshot Finalists prove there are many reasons to be optimistic about the future of our planet. They are directing their time, energy, and talent towards bold solutions with the power to not only solve our planet’s greatest environmental challenges, but to create healthier, more prosperous, and more sustainable communities for generations to come. 

“I am so excited to celebrate these fifteen Finalists and see the five Winners of The Earthshot Prize announced in Boston – the hometown of President John F. Kennedy, who shared The Earthshot Prize’s belief that seemingly impossible goals are within reach if we only harness the limitless power of innovation, human ingenuity, and urgent optimism.” 

SeaForester was launched in Portugal by Pål Bakken in 2016 to restore the forgotten forests in our ocean. Since then, SeaForester has tested the technique in Portugal and other countries. SeaForester’s goal is to begin reforesting much larger areas, with the aim to plant thousands of tonnes of seaweed by 2026. For rapid expansion and global reach, SeaForester offers mobile seaweed nurseries to coastal communities worldwide. These coastal regions will soon be able to take care of their underwater forests in their “blue front yard” in the same way they care for their trees on land. Our company hopes to attract more clients and partners to expand seaforestation worldwide.  

Pål Bakken said, “We are honoured to be recognized by HRH Prince William as a Finalist for The Earthshot Prize. Reviving our oceans is one of the greatest challenges of our generation, and we believe that with the support of The Earthshot Prize we can accelerate and scale our efforts. Over the past half-century, half the world’s kelp forests have disappeared. This is a disaster for marine ecosystems, local fishing industries and the climate. Our solution aims to restore what has been destroyed. Reforesting our seas will help reverse ocean acidification, build up fish stocks and curtail climate change. Thank you to The Earthshot Prize, for recognising us as we replenish the world’s forgotten forests.”

In addition to their eligibility for the £1 million prize, all Finalists will receive tailored support and resources from The Earthshot Prize Global Alliance Members, an unprecedented network of private sector businesses around the world committed to helping scale innovative climate and environmental solutions and multiplying their impact. 

The five Winners will be selected by The Earthshot Prize Council, a diverse team of influential individuals committed to using their platforms to champion inspiring leadership and elevate urgent efforts to repair and regenerate the planet. The Earthshot Prize Council Members include: HRH Prince William, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Cate Blanchett, Daniel Alves Da Silva, Sir David Attenborough, Ernest Gibson, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Jack Ma, Shakira Mebarak, Yao Ming, Luisa Neubauer, Indra Nooyi, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Naoko Yamazaki. 

A truly global project, The Earthshot Prize convenes a diverse nominator coalition of more than 200 people and organisations around the world from every continent, a distinguished Expert Advisory Panel, and The Earthshot Prize Council comprising influential individuals committed to championing positive environmental action.

The fifteen Finalists were assessed by the Expert Advisory Panel of scientific, academic, and subject-matter leaders. Each of the Finalist’s solutions excelled in the rigorous screening process and were assessed on their potential to create game-changing impact around the world, and their ability to help us reach our Earthshot challenges while positively impacting people, communities, and the natural world. 

For more information about The Earthshot Prize 2022 Finalists, please visit www.earthshotprize.org. 

The Earthshot Prize awards ceremony will take place on Friday, December 2 at the MGM Music Hall in Boston. It will air around the world on BBC in the UK and PBS in the United States. The show will also be available globally on YouTube. It will premiere on Sunday, December 4.

SeaForester is an environmental impact company based in Portugal (Cascais) with the mission to “restore the forgotten forests in our ocean”. Since 2016, SeaForester put seaforestation on the global agenda and is now at the forefront of seaweed restoration initiatives worldwide. The SeaForester team consists of an international team of employees and advisors with broad experience from seaweed cultivation, seaweed restoration and business.

For more information about SeaForester, please visit www.seaforester.org 

About The Earthshot Prize:                                              

●      Protect and Restore Nature; 

●      Build a Waste-free World; and 

The Prize aims to turn the current pessimism surrounding environmental issues into optimism, by championing inspiring leadership and helping to scale incredible cutting-edge solutions. More than a Prize, it works in partnership with a Global Alliance of Partners to support the scaling of the solutions discovered and selected each year.

New for 2022, The Earthshot Prize is launching its Fellowship Programme, in partnership with IDEO. The Fellowship is a unique accelerator designed to help Finalists grow their solutions by unlocking new routes to market, finance and major partnerships. Leading global design agency IDEO crafted the Fellowship to ensure all fifteen Finalists are aided to maximise their impact through ambitious collaborations with The Earthshot Prize Global Alliance of 45 businesses, NGOs and philanthropists.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/EarthshotPrize 

SeaForester arranged and presented the UN Ocean Conference side event “Restoring the Forgotten Ocean Forests” in Casa de Santa Maria in Cascais on the 30th of June, 2022. 

SeaForester presents the UN Ocean Conference side event “Restoring the Forgotten Ocean Forests” 

Co-hosted by the Câmara Municipal de Cascais, SeaForester arranged and presented the UN Ocean Conference side event “Restoring the Forgotten Ocean Forests” in Casa de Santa Maria in Cascais on the 30th of June, 2022. With a panel of guest speakers from the Kelp Forest Alliance (Aaron Eger), Cetemares / MARE-IPL (João Nuno Franco), ReGeneration Surf (Natalie Fox), Mossy Earth (Tiago Zoeten) and Câmara Municipal de Cascais (Ana Margarida Ferreira) the event was a big success.

The event showcased how the restoration industry can transform seaweed forest restoration into a commercial enterprise following the model developed by SeaForester. The event highlighted the importance of strategic partnerships to support, finance and further develop seaforestation at scale. At the end of the event, attendees were invited to try some delicious food prepared by Escola de Hotelaria e Tourismo do Estoril, using seaweed from the local company WISSI.

The event was supported by EEA Grants Portugal and Direção-Geral de Política do Mar (DGPM).

Surfers and scientists joined hands at Praia de São Pedro in the Portuguese town of Peniche to restore kelp forests. 

Gardeners of the Ocean: Surfers and scientists join efforts to restore kelp forests in Peniche 

Surfers and scientists joined hands at Praia de São Pedro in the Portuguese town of Peniche to restore kelp forests. ReGeneration Surf, a coalition of expert, local partners across the fields of Ocean literacy education, scientific research, ecosystem restoration and community engagement (SeaForester, Mossy Earth, Oceans and Flow, ZeroWaste Lab) is pioneering innovative ways for surfers and coastal communities to engage in ocean conservation and restoration. The activities were implemented in collaboration with the World Surf League as part of the We Are One Ocean initiative. 

Gardeners of the Ocean: Together with surfers as citizen scientists, ReGeneration Surf did the first ever deployment of SeaForester’s seeded stones. 

Natalie Fox, the coordinator of the project, explains: "Today was deployment day, the result of a process that involved seeding small stones with kelp spores and growing them over the past few months in the laboratory facility at Cetemares / MARE-IPL. Now it's time to take the stones and deploy them at sea."

ReGeneration Surf trailer

Usually not very popular with beachgoers, the truth is that algae are a crucial component for the ecosystem. João Franco, a scientist at MARE-IPL, explains that "they serve as a habitat, as food, contribute to the production of oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide and filter the water from pollutants...among many other goods and services these underwater forests provide to us."

The surfers who joined the project were not frightened by the grey weather or the rough sea and took to the water for the maritime version of planting a tree. 

Surfistas e cientistas unem esforços para a reflorestação de algas

For the MEO Pro Portugal, WSL is teaming up with Regeneration Surf, a coalition of four incredible organizations focused on habitat restoration and youth education and Shisiedo's Blue Project, which is dedicated to improving the health and beauty of our ocean.

WSL, Regeneration Surf, and Shiseido Team Up To Restore Kelp In Portugal

In 2022, WSL continues to be committed to protecting and conserving the global ocean through the We Are One Ocean initiative and is bringing this to life at each Championship Tour event through community-led activations. One project in Portugal is turning to regenerative systems as a way to harness multiple solutions that we can find within our ocean, and the surfing community.

Regeneration Surf is pioneering innovative ways for surfers and coastal communities to engage in ocean literacy, citizen science and marine restoration - creating win-win scenarios for the ocean and humanity, starting at a grassroots level.

Regeneration Surf is a coalition of four Portugal-based organizations which include; Mossy Earth, SeaForester, ZeroWaste Lab, and Oceans and Flow, all experts in the fields of ocean literacy education, science and marine restoration. The partnership project is designed to promote regenerative systems, both socially and environmentally, and is being coordinated by Citizens of Surf, an official United Nations Decade of Ocean Science Activity. Additional partners include the CETEMARES institute in Peniche.

Throughout the MEO Portugal Pro event window and throughout the year a collaborative effort from ReGeneration Surf will help connect local residents, and visiting surfers, to ways in which they can engage with regenerative thinking, feeling and doing, to help restore the ocean.

João Nuno Franco (Researcher at Cetemares / MARE-IPL) explaining the seeded stones technique

The Portuguese coastline is renowned for an abundance of world class waves, where the energy of the North Atlantic weather systems meets an array of cold-water marine ecosystems. In the area where the MEO Peniche Pro is being held, there is a rich history of artisanal fishing and a powerful convergence of coastal culture, industry and ecology. In the past, extensive kelp forests could be found across most Portuguese rocky shores. Now, these productive habitats are mostly restricted to northern Portugal with only few remnant populations in central regions. Laminaria ochroleuca, also known as the "Golden Kelp", is one of the Iberian Peninsula's native kelp species that has suffered severe declines. The reasons for the disappearance of this majestic macro-algae are numerous such as: water pollution, changes in water temperature, intense grazing pressure, increased sedimentation and extreme weather.

Golden Kelp growing in the coastal waters of the Iberian Peninsula

Kelp forests are a great example of a regenerative system. Kelps are tremendously fast growing, making them one of the most productive ecosystems on earth. These complex underwater habitats support incredible biodiversity and provide nursery grounds for juvenile fish and crustaceans. They are a powerhouse for the climate, sequestering carbon at least five times more efficiently than tropical forests, and reducing the increasing acidification of our oceans. As surfers, we may see them as a nuisance when floating kelp gets caught in our fins or leash and slows us down when we're catching a wave. What we need to understand is that these habitats are fundamental for a healthy and thriving ocean ecosystem.

Surfers are encouraged to get involved with the reforestation of Ocean Forests through ReGeneration Surf

Along with raising awareness of the need to restore local kelp habitats and piloting a project to physically replant Golden Kelp off the Portuguese coast, ReGeneration Surf partners will be offering workshops on how to incorporate regenerative thinking into other areas that might impact our relationship with the ocean, such as ocean literacy and waste management.

Regenerative thinking with Zero Waste Lab

Regenerative thinking helps us find ways to adapt and change our systems - and we only need to look at nature for the best ideas. Part of this process is exploring and experimenting with new systems, finding positive feedback loops and supporting ways everyone can easily and effortlessly support the protection of the ocean to produce multiple benefits. We're talking win-win scenarios.

Zero Waste Lab is a non-profit organization which addresses both our individual responsibility in embracing best consumption and waste-prevention practices in daily life, as well as our capacity to influence others through pro-activism. Their workshops facilitate design focussed solutions to our consumption problems and show how we can transition to be more like nature and produce no waste. They bring together people from the local ecosystem, enabling shared initiatives and helping weave of synergies, collaborations and potentialities of moving towards a zero-waste system on land.

Regenerative feeling connects people "emotionally" to our ocean environment, and it continually renews itself with every experience. It helps them remember their ocean roots and care about the future of our ocean. With a culture of concern, we can become ocean advocates and drivers of a sustainable movement.

Oceans and Flow are an international team focused on water and aquatic movement. They have spent the last 2 years creating Programa Atlantis - an educational event featuring engaging talks, actions and workshops to promote ocean literacy, and their work has just been featured in National Geographic. They facilitate innovative journeys, deep experiences and inspiring films that combine ecotourism, adventure, well-being, art, culture, with different aquatic practices in connection with nature. Through their OCEAN Session, youngsters will dive into aquatic practices such as snorkelling and freediving, sharing the benefits of water to cultivate self-knowledge and well-being. Oceans and Flow offer an initiation to the underwater world and an invitation to feel the elements of nature, connect with the Ocean and get to know marine life. This is where regeneration meets the next generation of ocean advocates.

Regenerative doing - Seaforester and Mossy Earth

Regenerative doing is for the ocean lovers who want to go the extra step to support ocean restoration initiatives through citizen science. By participating in ocean science and research, surfers become part of the solution and help harness the potential the ocean provides to combat climate change. 

Seaforester is on a mission to restore the forgotten forests in our ocean. Mossy Earth enables their members to plant native trees and rewild key ecosystems while mitigating their carbon emissions. Together they are working towards reversing the alarming disappearance of kelp forests around Portugal's coastline, to safeguard the oceans' vital role of carbon sequestration, maintaining fish stocks and securing the planet's wellbeing. Their kelp restoration partnership aims to advance the novel ‘green gravel' method, in association with researchers at the CETEMARES & IPLeiria lab in Peniche. This process uses lab grown kelps, attached to small rocks, that are distributed across degraded reefs to re-establish new kelp canopies. By engaging surfers in the cultivation and deployment of green gravel, the project invites opportunities for citizen scientists and local marine stakeholders to become actively engaged in the restoration process.

Seaforester and Mossy Earth are working with CETEMARES/IPleiria to find innovative ways to reforest the Ocean

Regeneration Surf is now an official activity for the UN's Decade of Ocean Science, with a mission to engage and involve surfers in "the science we need, for the ocean we want" by 2030. Find out more by visiting the Regeneration Surf website: https://regeneration.surf/

https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/496969/wsl-regeneration-surf-and-shiseido-team-up-to-restore-kelp-in-portugal

Seaforester starts new WWF sponsored project to advance seaforestation by scaling and further optimizing the Green Gravel technique

Extensive seaweed forests historically occurred across most Portuguese rocky shores, but severe trends of loss have been occurring. Today, seaweed forests are mostly restricted to northern Portugal and are almost absent in central regions. Pollution levels and water quality have improved due to better wastewater treatment and limitations on fishing equipment were implemented, yet seaweed has failed to recolonize much of the available habitat and specific restoration actions to re-seed reefs are urgent.  

Successful planting trials of Laminaria ochroleuca using the green gravel technique

The Green Gravel Portugal project aims to advance seaforestation in Portugal by scaling and further optimising the Green Gravel technique. The project will also focus on involving local authorities and stakeholders to lay the foundation for future large-scale seaforestation projects along the coastline of Portugal.

The BlueForests project aims to fill a knowledge gap, quantifying the contribution made by marine forests to carbon sequestration and valuing the ecosystem services provided by them, thereby estimating the natural capital they provide.

SeaForester partner in new BlueForests project on rebuilding and valuing Portuguese marine forests

To reach these findings, the project will study the existing forests along the Portuguese coast and test novel methodologies, techniques, and models to increase marine vegetation in degraded habitats, including analysing the potential role of artificial structures. The organic carbon from marine forests sequestered in sediments (blue carbon) will be quantified and characterized and the ecosystem services provided by marine forests will be evaluated economically. Finding such values is of utmost importance in efforts to mitigate climate change, providing guidance to national and international policymakers for adequate planning on conservation and seaforestation of marine habitats such as macroalgae.

Blueforests is financed by the EEA Grants under the Blue Growth program. The EEA Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway towards a green, competitive and inclusive Europe.

SeaForester partner in new BlueForesting project on climate resilient marine forests for a sustainable future

Marine Forests are amongst the most iconic coastal habitats, supporting rich biodiversity, with the capacity to deliver key ecosystem services and support blue growth. Marine Forests can also be cost-effective nature-based solutions (NBS) with potential to mitigate climate change. 

BlueForesting aims to adapt nature-based solutions to the ocean properly grounded in sound climate change and biodiversity science. The project will develop science-based guidance for preserving marine forest functions and services, revealing species genetic diversity and climate refuge areas and promoting the co-development of effective and climate ready NBS. Expected results are of paramount importance as scientific foundations to support future marine protection and reforestation actions in a cost-effective and sustainable way.

Blueforesting is financed by the EEA Grants under the Blue Growth program. The EEA Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway towards a green, competitive and inclusive Europe.

SeaForester’s founder Pål Bakken discusses the environmental benefits of seaweed in BBC documentary

BBC documentary features seaweed restoration and its “climate saving” potential

Botanist James Wong and the BBC Follow the Food series joined our founder Pål Bakken to discuss the potential of seaweed to act as natural carbon sinks, featured as part of “The Carbon Challenge” episode. We invited James to our seaweed nursery in Peniche to explain how we produce our innovative restoration tool.

Twitter reel: Follow The Food - Seaweed forests

The Follow the Food episode “The Carbon Challenge" takes us on a journey from field to fork to explore whether technological innovation and modern agriculture can rise to the challenge of feeding a population of 10 billion people.

An international team of seaweed experts launched on Tuesday a group to globally coordinate and develop the novel ‘green gravel’ technique to restore kelp forests, in an effort to scale up and accelerate projects to recover these vital ecosystems worldwide.

PRESS RELEASE: Seaweed experts launch global group to restore kelp forests with new technique

Lisbon, June 8, 2021 – An international team of seaweed experts launched on Tuesday a group to globally coordinate and develop the novel ‘green gravel’ technique to restore kelp forests, in an effort to scale up and accelerate projects to recover these vital ecosystems worldwide.

Restoring kelp is becoming increasingly urgent as water warming, pollution and other factors destroy kelp forests around the world. Kelp forests play an important role in mitigating climate change through their role as substantial carbon sinks, as well as being home to exceptional biodiversity and serving as breeding and feeding grounds for many fish species.

The green gravel technique involves seeding small rocks with kelp spores in the laboratory and then scattering them in the ocean from a boat once they have grown into seedlings. The method is raising excitement because it is much simpler and cheaper than traditional seaweed restoration techniques that rely on scuba diving, highly trained workers or engineered structures. It also has strong synergies with seaweed farming technology, which means green gravel can be produced at commercial scales using existing cultivation infrastructure to restore larger areas.

The Green Gravel Action Group of international researchers will trial green gravel restoration in 15 different regions spread across 8 countries. The group will jointly develop solutions and general protocols for different kelp species around the world and communicate research findings together, with the aim of fast-tracking the research and development phase of this technique. It includes projects in Norway, Australia, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.

This will be the first time that any kelp restoration tool will be tested and developed worldwide, with a consistent method and goal to scale up to a global solution.

“The loss of kelp forests around the world needs urgent action if we are going to avoid this huge environmental damage to the health of our ocean,” said Professor Thomas Wernberg of the University of Western Australia and Institute of Marine Research, Norway. “We cannot afford that loss and need to think seriously about restoring kelp forests at a larger scale. The green gravel method is by the far the most promising way to do that.”

Marine forests of large brown seaweeds - kelp - cover an area roughly the size of Mexico, or 150 million hectares, globally. The most recent estimates indicate a 1.8 percent loss per year over the past few decades, implying that 3 million hectares of marine forests would need to be restored in 2021 to keep pace with the decline. This is a great challenge for the UN Decade of Restoration, which was launched this week.

Underwater heatwaves, which are increasing in frequency due to climate change, have had some of the biggest effects on kelp forests. In 2011, the Ningaloo Nina Marine Heatwave destroyed 97,438 hectares of forest in Western Australia and in 2014 the Blob Heatwave destroyed 4,800 hectares in Northern California. Southern Norway lost an estimated 780,000 hectares of kelp forest in the 2000s.

Scientists have estimated that globally kelp forests provide between US$130-177 per hectare in fisheries, nutrient filtration which improves water quality, and carbon storage. They are biodiversity-rich coastal habitats that feed, shelter and protect ecologically and economically important species. Restoring kelp forests presents a unique – but underappreciated and underutilized – way to protect biodiversity and enhance CO2 drawdown.

Green gravel was initially proposed and tested in Norway by researchers at the Institute of Marine Research (IMR – Flødevigen) in 2020. The technique is now being developed and shared with other researchers around the world in collaboration with UWA Australia, IMR, SeaForester and DPI New South Wales, Australia, who are leading the group.

Wernberg, who is on Reuters’ list of top global climate scientists, is coordinating the green gravel group together with Dr. Karen Filbee-Dexter (UWA, IMR) and Dr. Melinda Coleman (DPI NSW).

Forgotten Forests Campaign: Growing hope for the environmental benefits of restoring kelp forests

Living and working next to the Ocean in Lisbon, means the How&How team are all closely connected to the sea. As part of their ongoing series of environmental projects called BeHalf (which they create on behalf of the Planet), they partnered with SeaForester to help them spread the word about the benefits of restoring seaweed forests.

Designed to coincide with World Oceans Day 2021, they worked with the Lisbon-based organization (who provided copy content and research references) to create a campaign which urged people to think differently about their “blue front yard”, and the huge potential of the forgotten forests of seaweed underwater.

The concept of the campaign was “seeing the sea like land” — and centered on the idea of turning what we consider cultivatable space, on its head. Humans tend to focus on what we can see on dry land, and often overlook the potential of what is growing (or could be grown) underneath the water, and away from sight. 

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SeaForester has received the EEA Innovation Grant to establish itself as an organization in Portugal with expertise in the emerging seaweed restoration industry.

EEA Innovation Grant awarded to SeaForester

SeaForester has received the EEA Innovation Grant to establish itself as an organization in Portugal with expertise in a field that is still in its infancy, allowing it to create a strong position early in the emerging seaweed restoration industry.

The EEA SeaForester project responds to the alarming disappearance of seaweed forests around the world, aiming to restore these ecosystems and thereby improve ocean health. A healthy ocean with the capacity to support more marine life is a key factor for a sustainable blue economy that will benefit any coastal 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. 

Information boards about seaweeds at beaches of Cascais

The project will deliver an innovative mix of services and know-how in the emerging field of seaweed restoration, which holds great potential for blue growth in terms of potential future carbon offsetting, mitigating climate change and increasing ecosystem services in the ocean and along coastlines. Any local authority, country or business with a stake in the health of the ocean has an interest in the services offered by SeaForester. 

To highlight the beneficial elements of seaweed restoration, the project will include the municipality of Cascais, which has become one of the first local councils with a coastline to adopt such a restoration feasibility study. 

EEA Innovation Grant awarded to SeaForester 

SeaForester signed an agreement with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to develop its Blue Frond Yard approach to restoring marine forest habitats and delivering environmental and economic benefits to coastal communities. 

SeaForester develops its Blue Front Yard Approach with support from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

The Blue Front Yard Approach is a novel way to restore our coastal ecosystems and presents a model for community-based engagement in marine restoration. In the same way as we maintain and restore nature areas on land (parks, forests, green spaces), a healthy and well-maintained ‘Blue Front Yard’ provides substantial benefits to local communities and economies.  

The project aims to gather the needed information to provide clients with reliable estimates of seaweed ecosystem services and their value to industry and local communities to incentivize project adoption. The project also explores strategies for stakeholder involvement and sustainable financing of restoration projects. 

SeaForester starts its first research project with partners across continental Portugal, Azores and Madeira (CCMAR, CIIMAR, MARE-IPL, University of Evora, IMAR, University of Madeira).

SeaForester initiates its first research project to test efficient planting methods for the recovery of kelp populations

SeaForester starts its first research project with partners across continental Portugal, Azores and Madeira (CCMAR, CIIMAR, MARE-IPL, University of Evora, IMAR, University of Madeira). 

The project tests efficient planting methods for the population recovery of native kelp species along the Portuguese coast. Scientific surveys and citizen science actions for mapping marine seaweed forests are also developed to enhance the data availability of their distribution across continental Portugal and its archipelagos. This information is key to establish the current status of seaweed resources in Portugal and inform current and future conservation and restoration efforts.

The Seaforest Portugal project is financed by Fundo Azul.

SeaForester signed an agreement with the municipality of Cascais (Câmara Municipal de Cascais) to implement a feasibility project that is assessing the potential to recover kelp forests along the coastline of Cascais.

SeaForester initiates feasibility project to assess the potential for seaforestation in Cascais

Inês Louro and Jan Verbeek from SeaForester on the survey vessel of the municipality of Cascais

Through a combination of scientific research, citizen science and community engagement, we envision that this initial feasibility project will provide the first step towards enhancing the health and value of Cascais’ Blue Front Yard. The project was developed to assess the historic and current status of seaweed populations, identify potential environmental stressors that inhibit the natural recovery of seaweeds, test best planting / seeding techniques for endemic seaweeds, and develop a plan for future seaforestation activities in Cascais.

SeaForester co-funding the new University of Western Australia ARC 2019 Linkage Project: Restoring blue forests with green gravel

SeaForester is co-funding the ARC 2019 Linkage Project: Restoring blue forests with green gravel, coordinated by the University of Western Australia.

The process of producing the green gravel restoration technique

The project aims to progress the novel green gravel technique from concept to application on Ecklonia radiata reefs in Western Australia. The project will run over 4 years, during which they will develop and optimize the Green Gravel technique for this region, perform field tests, and conduct large scale restoration trials using targeted source populations. The end goal is to provide scalable and practical solutions to future-proof kelp forests against climate and anthropogenic stress.

Interview with SeaForester for the Ocean Race: “Green gravel: A novel technique to restore seaweed forests”

Green gravel is an exciting new solution to restore kelp - a seaweed superhero that has incredible benefits for the marine world and is a nature-based solution that could help mitigate climate change.

Through The Ocean Race Summits we are shining a spotlight on innovative new ocean-based projects that are helping to tackle the major threats to our planet. Inês Louro from SeaForester spoke at our recent European Summit about how Green Gravel works and the importance of restoring our seas.

SeaForester in Forbes Portugal News

Other News

Interview with SeaForester for the Ocean Race: “Green gravel: A novel technique to restore seaweed forests”

SeaForester co-funding the new University of Western Australia ARC 2019 Linkage Project: Restoring blue forests with green gravel

PRESS RELEASE: SeaForester joins forces with Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe and other expert organisations, aiming to restore 1,500 hectares of marine habitats by 2030

SeaForester presents the UN Ocean Conference side event “Restoring the Forgotten Ocean Forests”

SeaForester develops its Blue Front Yard Approach with support from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

Seaforester starts new WWF sponsored project to advance seaforestation by scaling and further optimizing the Green Gravel technique

WSL, Regeneration Surf, and Shiseido Team Up To Restore Kelp In Portugal

SeaForester initiates its first research project to test efficient planting methods for the recovery of kelp populations

Forgotten Forests Campaign: Growing hope for the environmental benefits of restoring kelp forests

PRESS RELEASE: Prince Willian unveils SeaForester as a finalist for the second annual Earthshot Prize Awards

SeaForester partner in new BlueForesting project on climate resilient marine forests for a sustainable future

Gardeners of the Ocean: Surfers and scientists join efforts to restore kelp forests in Peniche

Fellowship Position at MARE-IPLeiria on kelp forest restoration

BBC documentary features seaweed restoration and its “climate saving” potential

Hope Lies Beneath

SeaForester in DEUTSCHE WELLE article about the Earthshot Prize

SeaForester initiates feasibility project to assess the potential for seaforestation in Cascais

The Earthshot Prize 2022 Awards in Boston

EEA Innovation Grant awarded to SeaForester

SeaForester partner in new BlueForests project on rebuilding and valuing Portuguese marine forests

PRESS RELEASE: Seaweed experts launch global group to restore kelp forests with new technique