Underwater Havens: The Imperiled Seaweed Forests of Chile
Chile's northern coast hosts thriving underwater seaweed forests, vital for biodiversity, local economies, and global carbon capture. However, these ecosystems face threats from warming oceans and pollution. Indigenous communities and scientists emphasize the urgent need for policies to protect these marine treasures and their myriad ecological benefits.
In northern Chile's cold seas, vibrant underwater seaweed forests flourish, supporting local wildlife and communities while playing a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. These marine ecosystems offer food, income, and biodiversity benefits, but face increasing dangers from human activity and climate change.
Marine biologist Alejandra Gonzalez highlights these forests' vital protective and ecological functions. She warns they're under increasing pressure, with kelp forests shrinking faster than rainforests. Local Changa indigenous leader Maria Jose Espinoza points to mining waste and desalination as key threats to these crucial habitats.
As significance grows, calls for policies safeguarding seaweed forests intensify. Diver Roberto Carlos Chango and harvester Sergio Gutierrez underscore their community's reliance on these vital resources, stressing the need for preservation to ensure continued environmental and economic benefits in the region.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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