After the first kelp mappers workshop held during the month of April in Chile, more than 230 researchers and 70 institutions from 18 countries raised their voices through a letter that seeks to highlight the need for real protection and conservation of the kelp. underwater forests of Latin America. Find out more details here.
 

More than 230 scientists and 70 international institutions from 18 countries —among them, leaders such as Sylvia Earle, oceanographer and founder of Mission Blue, and Enric Sala, director of National Geographic Pristine Seas— signed a letter focused on the real need to unify efforts for protection and conservation of macroalgae in Latin America.

«The signatures represent a call to work together between science, politics and communities to include these marine ecosystems in regional conservation strategies. It is a call to prioritize the protection of these submerged forests in Latin American environmental agendas,” comments the marine biologist and scientific director of the Por El Mar Foundation.

In this sense, the letter proposes three axes. The first is to prioritize the inclusion of kelp forests in environmental policies in the region, efficiently protecting 30% of its extension. The second is to establish protection figures for the species that form macroalgae forests. And the third is to identify and protect persistent and resilient macroalgae forests.

The initiative arises from the first Kelp mappers workshop in Latin America, where the need and urgency to join forces to request a greater commitment to protect these ecosystems was measured.

«We can say that this letter represents a starting point to work together and achieve a real impact in the protection of these submerged forests. When we decided to do it, we didn't think that so many international references would join us. This achievement makes us very happy, because it is finally a powerful message of hope to continue working in this direction," explains Cristián.

Underwater forests are fundamental to the world's coasts and the functioning of the oceans, and can be compared to terrestrial forests. They are the main marine habitat of 30% of the world's coasts, and it is estimated that the forests of Latin America represent close to 40% of this coverage, connecting countries such as Mexico, Peru, Chile and Argentina along more than 10 thousand kilometers of coast and islands.

But beyond their extension, they are ecosystems of great importance for their role in the health and stability of the oceans. They are also generators of wealth in coastal communities, contributing to nutritional health. However, its abundance has decreased due to many natural and human disturbances.

In Latin America, countries such as Mexico, Peru, Chile and Argentina have committed to protecting 30% of their macroalgae forests within some type of Marine Protected Area. However, less than 1% is located within highly protected areas. The letter would be a call to raise awareness about the importance of underwater forests as refuges of biodiversity and ecosystems that help combat the climate crisis on a global scale.

«Governments must prioritize protecting 30% of their seas by 2030 if they want to achieve international conservation commitments. However, in general, Latin American countries are still very far from that value. Therefore, our challenge is not only greater marine protection but also including this type of ecosystems within these percentages since they represent true conservation values ​​that directly benefit the health of our planet, and therefore, our quality of life,» Cristián finishes.