Sussex kelp forest to be restored as part of projects to tackle climate crisis
The 200 square kilometre site is one of 12 projects to be chosen across England and Wales by the Wildlife Trusts
Last updated 8th Jul 2021
A project in Sussex to restore almost 200 square kilometres of kelp forest has been unveiled by the Wildlife Trusts as part of efforts to tackle the climate and nature crisis.
It is one of 12 schemes chosen by the employees across the charities 46 branches in England and Wales to help bring back habitats that are crucial in absorbing carbon emissions.
Kelp once grew in abundance along 40 kilometres of the West Sussex coastline from Selsey to Shoreham-by-Sea, forming an underwater forest that extended at least four kilometres out to sea.
However, within living memory, kelp in Sussex waters has diminished to almost nothing. Storm damage, trawling and the dumping of sediment spoils by dredging activity have taken their toll on this sensitive habitat.
The Sussex Wildlife Trust said that the underwater forests are highly productive and diverse habitats that are crucial to supporting a healthy functioning ecosystem.
It added that the kelp draws down carbon into the developing ecosystem, increases biodiversity and provides an important nursery habitat for juvenile fish species.
Enabling the kelp forest to regenerate at scale could also help alleviate coastal flood risk.
The scheme is able to move forward thanks to nearly £2 million raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery - with a share of the money being spent on the cause.
Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said:
"Nature can be our biggest ally in limiting global temperature rises, but we have to give it a huge helping hand.
"We need to cut emissions at source to fight climate change and we can also have a big impact by restoring nature because wilder places lock-up carbon.
"That means repairing the amazing habitats in our seas, rewetting peatlands, dramatically changing how we manage farmland, rewilding landscapes, and bringing back habitats that have been lost."
Sally Ashby, Sussex Kelp Lead said:
“The Sussex kelp restoration project is an ambitious and hope-filled project that aims to heal the Sussex marine environment, build climate change resilience and restore healthy productive seas for future generations.”
Laura Chow, head of charities at People's Postcode Lottery, said:
"We're delighted funding raised by our players is helping The Wildlife Trusts restore habitats across the country that play a key role in accumulating and storing carbon.
"By helping nature thrive, these ambitious projects offer solutions to the challenges we face from climate change so these landscapes and the wildlife there can be enjoyed by future generations."