Landscape Mapping Blue Forests Policy in Norway

More projects that focus on the dissemination of knowledge of blue forests to students, policymakers, fisheries and the general public should be funded. Blue forests projects with a particular focus on blue carbon should be included within international financial mechanisms such as REDD+. Future blue forests projects The overwhelming majority of participants were not aware of any concrete future blue forests projects that have detailed information. This question also included space for participants to identify any potential needs or opportunities necessary to advance potential projects. The two most common themes were: • More collaborative efforts are needed in order to pursue cross-sector projects moving forward, especially between energy (offshore wind) and macroalgae cultivation. • Many prospective projects lack the funding necessary to begin. Potential projects related to mapping and international mangrove preservation and restoration efforts were specifically mentioned. 3.7 Additional thoughts on blue forests projects This section allowed participants to express any additional opinions regarding blue forests not covered by the survey instrument. The opinions most frequently expressed by participants within this section were as follows:

• More research regarding the sustainability of macroalgae cultivation is highly necessary, particularly regarding the topic of ocean ionization. • It is crucial to incorporate blue forests into sustainable integrated coastal management plans. Plans of this nature often have to balance many competing interests, and the value of natural ecosystems should be appropriately considered within this process. • As municipal governments often have more capacity to manage coastal ecosystems than counties in Norway, spatial planning efforts to protect vulnerable blue forests ecosystems ought to be executed at the municipal level. • There is a tendency for blue forests to be only associated with blue carbon, and the term blue forests itself can be confusing for audiences less acquainted with the terminology. • Financial mechanisms outside of REDD+ may be better suited to supporting widespread, international blue forests projects due to the challenges associated with incorporating blue carbon into REDD+.

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