Carbon stock assessment, restoration planning, and monitoring of terrestrial, intertidal, and sub-tidal ecosystems for U.S. Naval base guamproject period: 12 20 2023 - 06 30 2028PROJECT abstract:…

The U.S. Geological Survey, through its Cooperative Research Units (CFDA 15.812) program, awarded a $386,408.49 Cooperative Agreement to Louisiana State University Agricultural Center to conduct research on carbon stocks and seagrass ecosystems within the Guam Naval Base. The project has four main objectives: 1) Assess above-ground and below-ground carbon stocks across various land cover and ecosystem types, including wetlands, grasses, and seagrass habitats; 2) Monitor seagrass extent, health, and associated biodiversity at Dadi Beach on the Naval Base; 3) Produce research products to share findings with the Naval Base; and 4) Develop a seagrass restoration plan for the Dadi Beach area. The project period runs from Dec. 20, 2023 to Jun. 30, 2028 and is expected to deliver detailed carbon stock assessments, seagrass mapping, biodiversity measures, and a restoration plan to inform land management decisions for the Naval Base and the broader Pacific Island region.

Carbon stock assessment, restoration planning, and monitoring of terrestrial, intertidal, and sub-tidal ecosystems for U.S. Naval base guamproject period: 12 20 2023 - 06 30 2028PROJECT abstract: the primary objective of this project is to conduct field, and remote sensing data collection to estimate belowground and above ground carbon stocks for a variety of land cover or ecosystems located within guam naval base, and to survey and monitor guam naval base seagrass beds and associated biodiversity to inform long-term trends, and restoration opportunities. Activities to be performed - task 1. Assessment of aboveground and belowground carbo stocks for land cover types located within guam naval base. This will include wetland ecosystems including herbaceous, shrub herb and mangrove systems, grasses and upland trees, and seagrass habitats. Task 2. To monitor seagrass extent, health and associated biodiversity at dadi beach located on guam naval base. This will include field sampling of seagrass, macroalgae and macroinvertebrates, and remote sensing to identify and validate satellite surveys of seagrass species and extent for long-term trend analyses. Task 3. To produce products to share this research and outcomes with guam naval base. Task 4. Develop seagrass restoration plan for dadi beach area. Deliverables and expected outcomes -above- ground carbon stocks across habitat classes below- ground carbon stocks across habitat classesmaps of total carbon stocks by habitat or ecosystem typecarbon stock change over 5-years by habitat classmapped spatial extent of current species-specific seagrass areas in dadi beach.quantitative measures of seagrass health, biodiversity, and productivity in dadi beach over 5-years.remote sensing monitoring approach developed and assessed for recent trends of seagrass extent in dadi beach. Intended beneficiary(IES) -this work will provide insight to understand restoration potential for habitats and greenhouse gas mitigation in the form of carbon storage in pacific island ecosystems, and expand knowledge understanding seagrass systems and biodiversity support in this region. This work will thus provide critical information to land management agencies in the region tasked with restoration and management of these ecosystems. The immediate beneficiary is the guam naval base, but other management stakeholders, local residents, and other pacific island managers will benefit from the knowledge obtained on this project. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award - n a