Kelp, Culture, and Conservation


I’m not a kelp guy. But a few years ago I was linked up with Aaron Eger and the Kelp Forest Alliance (KFA) and found myself invited to a working group on kelp restoration at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) in Santa Barbara, California.

From Outsider to Co-Facilitator: A Global Kelp Forest Workshop

Fast forward a few years, and we just met together for the third time, bringing together a global community of practice to explore the critical intersection of kelp forest ecology, cultural heritage, and contemporary conservation challenges. As a co-facilitator of the workshop now, I helped set the tone for a deeply collaborative and respectful dialogue centered on the unique expertise and long-standing kelp stewardship of Indigenous Peoples.


The New Thesis for Durable Nearshore Conservation

We collectively drew from our shared well of knowledge, and reflected on discussions and outputs from the first two years of meeting (We're not ready to share this year's discussions, but I spoke of the last two years during the East Pacific Kelp Congress back in January). This work intersects with my work at the Center for American Progress because my thesis is that kelp forests and other nearshore habitats are uniquely challenging for traditional, static area-based goals like 30x30, given their high biodiversity and vulnerability to non-acute threats from nearby human populations. I believe that durable marine conservation must evolve beyond merely counting square miles; instead, it must prioritize access, quality, and equity and justice, and the ideas in our Nearshore Ocean Progress report.



What's Next?

We hope to publish in the coming weeks and months some of the knowledge shared during our gathering. Thanks to the KFA and NCEAS for bringing us together, and also to the participants who traveled from four continents to attend.

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