Project summary/abstract attachment carbon dioxide (CO2) is a major contributor to climate change, and reducing its concentration in the atmosphere is crucial for mitigating the effects of global…

Project summary/abstract attachment carbon dioxide (CO2) is a major contributor to climate change, and reducing its concentration in the atmosphere is crucial for mitigating the effects of global warming. One promising solution is carbon sequestration, which involves the capture and storage of carbon in natural or artificial reservoirs. One approach is to use native aquatic and wetland plants that naturally absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and store IT in their tissues. This project proposes to study the potential of native aquatic plants for carbon sequestration in freshwater, wetland, and estuarine ecosystems across indigenous resource management landscapes. This project team of heeia national estuarine research reserve (NERR), consisting of the hawaii department of land and natural resources (DLNR) division of aquatic resources (DAR), hawaii institute of marine biology, kkoo IWI, and kuhialoko, has ongoing efforts to protect and restore the states aquatic resources, including coral reefs, fish populations, invasive species control, wetland/estuary/stream restoration, and water quality, through biocultural restoration and indigenous resource management practices. A carbon sequestration project through the use of native outplanting in freshwater, wetland, and estuarine environments will provide key information regarding additional benefits of biocultural restoration. Information gleaned from this project can help mitigate the effects of climate change on ocean acidification and sea level rise, while also providing important habitat for fish and other marine organisms. Overall, this project aligns with the mission and goals of the heeia NERR, to protect and restore estuarine ecosystems where both human and natural communities thrive, and provides important environmental benefits to support sustainable resource management in hawaiis aquatic ecosystems. Objectives for this project include: establish baseline carbon sequestration estimates for key aquatic, wetland, and riparian terrestrial ecosystems from mauka to makai in the heeia NERR, and at kuhialoko in waiawa, oahu. Assess the potential of native aquatic plants for long-term carbon storage in freshwater, estuarine, wetland, and riparian terrestrial ecosystems, by evaluating the influence of environmental variables (such as temperature, light intensity, and nutrient availability) on carbon sequestration by native plants compare the above- and below-ground carbon sequestration efficiency of native aquatic plants with other carbon sequestration methods. This project is expected to contribute to the understanding of carbon sequestration potential of native aquatic plants in freshwater, estuarine, and wetland ecosystems. Baseline measurements will provide US with a landscape of carbon sequestration potential in areas that are in various stages of biocultural restoration. The results of this study will provide valuable information for policymakers, restoration managers, and practitioners interested in utilizing natural ecosystems for climate mitigation. The project will also generate new knowledge about 1 the influence of environmental variables on carbon sequestration by native aquatic plants, which can be used to optimize the use of this strategy. Overall, this project will advance our understanding of the role of native plants in mitigating climate change and help to identify new solutions for carbon sequestration. Collaboration with the hawaii soil health team will help land managers across oahu to understand and maintain soil health, contribute to the island wide soil health index, and help to improve landscape resilience amidst indigenous resource management practices. 2