COASTAL

Coastal habitats are found along the edges of land and sea, and include beaches and estuaries. Most marine life can be found in coastal habitats, even if this area occupies only 7% of the total marine area. Coastal habitats are important for a variety of reasons, including providing habitat for a wide range of species, regulating water quality, protecting against storms and floods, and supporting paramount human activities such as fishing.

Discover our coastal project

COASTAL

Why is it so important to protect and conserve our coastal habitats?

Coastal habitats are incredibly valuable ecosystems that support a high level of biodiversity and provide a range of ecological services. They play a significant role in climate regulation, acting as natural buffers against storms, floods, and erosion. They also help regulate water quality acting as natural filters, trapping sediments and pollutants, and helping to maintain the clarity and quality of coastal waters. Healthy coastal habitats ensure the sustainability of recreational activities such as swimming and boating, and support local economies and communities, particularly through coastal industries, contributing to local and global food security.

Support a coastal project

+1%

phytoplankton productivity = the sudden appearance of 2 billion mature trees.

X4

pound for pound, mangroves can sequester four times more carbon than rainforests can.

How can we best support our coastal habitats?

Mangroves are keystone species of coastal habitats

Protecting/planting mangroves

Mangroves are nature’s guardians of the coastal habitat. They provide essential habitat for marine life, protect shorelines from erosion, and sequester significant amounts of carbon.

Sea otters are a keystone specie of coastal habitats

Protecting/restoring keystone species

The protection and restoration of keystone species are vital for the well-being of habitats. By ensuring their survival, we contribute to the preservation of biodiversity, promote ecological stability, and support the interconnected web of life.

Protecting/planting seagrass

Seagrass meadows are important nursery habitats, providing a safe shelter for juvenile fish, smaller fish and invertebrates.

Seagrasses are also called the lungs of the sea, due to the enormous amount of oxygen they produce. They hold around 10% of the carbon stored in the ocean, while only making up 0.2% of the ocean floor.

Kelp is a keystone specie of coastal habitats

Protecting/planting kelp

By protecting and planting kelp, we help mitigate climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide, improving water quality, and contributing to coastal resilience.

Protecting tidal mudflats

Tidal mudflats are extremely important ecosystems. They are a stopover for migrating birds but also important for the balance between land and sea. They play a key role in the food chain and act as breeding grounds for molluscs, worms and other invertebrates.

Keystone species

Keystone species have a key role in the functioning of a habitat, as they have a cascading effect on other species in an ecosystem. It is crucial to protect keystone species to ensure habitats’ health. For habitat restoration purposes, it can also be beneficial to reintroduce keystone species in certain areas. Here are some of the keystone species crucial for our coastal habitats:

Dugong

vulnerable
Decreasing

The presence and conservation of dugongs are essential for maintaining the structure, function, and resilience of seagrass ecosystems. Their role as grazers, seed dispersers, habitat modifiers, and indicators of ecosystem health highlight their significance as keystone species in coastal environments.

Kelp

vulnerable
Decreasing

Found in nutrient-rich waters in coastal areas around the world, kelp forests are among the richest ecosystems in the ocean. Kelp is considered a keystone species, specifically a keystone host, as it provides food and shelter for many other marine organisms.

Sea otters

endangered
Decreasing

Sea otters are keystone species in marine ecosystems, particularly in kelp forests. They control sea urchin populations, preventing overgrazing of kelp. By maintaining a balance, sea otters promote the health and biodiversity of kelp forests. Their presence has cascading effects on trophic levels and contributes to ecosystem resilience and carbon sequestration.

Mangroves

vulnerable
Globally, the area of mangroves decreased by 1.04 million ha between 1990 and 2020

Mangrove trees have adapted to grow in the salty, muddy soils of tropical and subtropical coastal areas. Mangroves are a keystone species as they provide habitat and food for a wide range of species. Occasionally referred to as the “kidneys of the coast,” mangroves store large amounts of carbon in their biomass and sediments, making them important carbon sinks. They also act as a natural barrier against coastal erosion and storm surges, reducing the risk of flooding and protecting coastal habitats from the impacts of climate change.

Seagrass

least-concern
Stable

Seagrass is a keystone species due to its vital role in coastal ecosystems. It provides habitat and serves as a nursery for marine organisms. Seagrasses stabilize sediments, maintain water clarity, and contribute to nutrient cycling. They are efficient carbon sequesters and support high biodiversity. Preserving seagrass ecosystems is essential for ecosystem health and resilience.

Coral

endangered
Half of coral reefs have been lost since the 1950s

Found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world, coral forms coral reefs, which are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems on Earth. Coral is a keystone species because it plays a crucial role in the functioning of coral reefs, which in their turn play a key role in the functioning of our oceans. They are a habitat for a wide range of species, offer protection from storms and waves, and support for human activities such as fishing.

Oysters

data-deficient
Data deficient

Oysters are considered keystone species and ecosystem engineers because their presence and activities have far-reaching impacts on the health and functioning of the ecosystems they inhabit. They influence water quality, create vital habitats, protect coastlines, cycle nutrients, support fisheries, and contribute to overall ecosystem resilience. The decline of oyster populations can lead to negative cascading effects throughout the ecosystem, making their conservation and restoration important for both ecological and economic reasons.

Feel like supporting our coastal habitats together with us?

Support one of our projects.

Biodiversity restoration
In progress

Mangrove restoration - Malindi Ungwana Bay

We plant mangroves in Malindi Ungwana Bay

Kenya
COASTAL , WETLAND

Our local communities plant mangroves in the Malindi Ungwana Bay in the Republic of Kenya, a crucial sea turtle habitat and stopover for thousands of migratory birds.