National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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Climate love
Edwin wangombe
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Spearhead The strategy to protect marine biodiversity
The strategy to protect marine biodiversity, as announced by the White House and spearheaded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is a landmark decision in the fight against climate change and biodiversity conservation. With roughly 2 million species living in the world's oceans and only 10% of them described by scientists, the urgency to protect marine life has never been greater. The new National Ocean Biodiversity Strategy aims to address this by fostering a more unified and inclusive approach to ocean conservation, which is crucial given the rising rate of extinctions and the imminent threat to many species.

Protecting marine biodiversity is integral to combating climate change. Oceans play a critical role in regulating the Earth's climate by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen through the photosynthetic activities of microscopic ocean plants. These plants, along with other marine organisms, are essential in sequestering atmospheric carbon and maintaining the balance of greenhouse gases. Biodiversity loss in the ocean can disrupt these processes, exacerbating climate change and its impacts.

'Life in the ocean touches everyone': US rolls out first national ocean biodiversity strategy
Roughly 2 million species live in the world's oceans. But scientists have only described a mere 10% of them. With extinctions on the rise and biodiversity threatened worldwide, many species are in danger of vanishing before researchers can identify them or fully grasp the benefits they provide.
https://phys.org/news/2024-06-life-ocean-national-biodiversity-strategy.html


Moreover, marine biodiversity supports the health and resilience of ecosystems, which provide numerous benefits to humanity, including food security, economic prosperity, and cultural value. Over a billion people worldwide rely on the ocean as their primary source of protein. In the U.S., the ocean contributes nearly $400 billion to the economy annually and supports 2.4 million jobs in sectors such as fishing, shipping, tourism, and energy. The U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, larger than all 50 states combined, is a testament to the ocean's vast and invaluable resources.

The strategy emphasizes the importance of improving scientists' ability to gather, share, and use knowledge for more effective protection of marine life. Current gaps in knowledge and protection are significant, with many smaller and lesser-known species barely studied. These species may hold the keys to sustaining coral reefs, fisheries, and other critical ecosystems. By strengthening the nation's ocean observing system and enhancing the information pipeline, the strategy aims to bridge these gaps and ensure that knowledge is accessible and actionable.

Government and organizational support is pivotal to the success of this strategy. The collaboration between the White House, NOAA, and other entities highlights a society-wide effort to preserve marine biodiversity. This unified approach is essential for implementing evidence-based metrics and indicators for decision-making in ocean spaces, ensuring that conservation investments yield the desired outcomes while minimizing negative impacts on ocean life.

As NOAA's chief scientist Sarah Kapnick states, advancing frontier technologies for biodiversity science and understanding is crucial. By coming together around the use of these technologies and metrics, we can monitor, report, and verify the effectiveness of conservation efforts. This will help maintain the integrity of ocean ecosystems, safeguard the services they provide, and ultimately enhance the resilience of the planet against climate change.

In conclusion, the National Ocean Biodiversity Strategy represents a critical step forward in protecting marine biodiversity. This initiative, supported by government and nongovernmental agencies, will have far-reaching positive impacts on climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and the overall health of our planet. By fostering a more cohesive and informed approach to ocean conservation, we can ensure the sustainable management of marine resources and the well-being of future generations.
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29 w
Dear Edwin wangombe Your climate love has received over 50 agrees! We have reached out to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by email and requested a response. I will keep you updated on any progress! To reach more people and increase the chance of a response, click the Share button above to share the review on your social accounts. For every new member that joins We Don't Have Time from your network, we will plant a tree and attribute it to you! /Adam, We Don't Have Time
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29 w
As we face increasing challenges like climate change, NOAA's strategy provides a comprehensive approach to protect marine ecosystems.
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33 w
Biodiversity is the recipe for a healthy ecosystem. Its hard to imagine that we have only the tip of the iceberg interms of identifying marine species.
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It's great to see a focus on gathering and sharing knowledge to make ocean conservation more effective.
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This is fantastic news for our oceans. Love that NOAA is leading the charge with a focus on science & collaboration!
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All marine lives should be protected with all means
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Marine lives are significant part of the ecosystem and they need protection
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33 w
Marine diversity is so important in the ecosystem. It feels hopeful to see the national actions to protect them.