The world's giant kelp forests – vital marine wildernesses as important to Earth’s ecology as rainforests and coral reefs – are being mapped by a team of international scientists.
University of Queensland PhD candidate Nur Arafeh-Dalmau is leading the project to map and identify potential sanctuaries for giant kelp forests, which are increasingly threatened by climate change.
“Marine kelp forests are found off 25 per cent of the planet’s coastlines,” Mr Arafeh-Dalmau said.
“They’re one of the most productive and magnificent ecosystems on Earth, but they’re disappearing because of an increase in human activities and marine heatwaves.
