Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1) introduced the Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act, to improve federal coordination of blue carbon ecosystems. The following statement was issued by Gwynne Taraska, Ocean Conservancy’s Climate Program Director:

“Blue carbon ecosystems efficiently sequester carbon dioxide and have a range of other benefits, including protecting shorelines from storms and sea level rise. The protection and restoration of these ecosystems is therefore a key means of limiting climate change and building resilience to its effects.

The bill Representative Bonamici introduced today will advance our understanding of the blue carbon habitats living off our shores and identify how we can best protect, restore, and expand them. We thank Representative Bonamici for her leadership on ocean-climate issues and for furthering the conversation about the ocean as a crucial part of the climate solution.”

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Gwynne Taraska is available for media interviews upon request.

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.