TinaM’s Recent Comments

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  Ocean Eco-Restoration has Merit

  The Planktos proposal seems to have been mislabeled. It seems to be more about restoration ecology than geoengineering.

  Restoration ecology (and its companion science conservation biology) has a decades-long history of contributing improved environmental quality on land -- reclaiming wetlands to support biodiversity and water quality goals, expanding populations of rare or endangered species, returning watersheds to near-pristine conditions. The methods are based on applying key concepts that mirror ecosystem structure & function. I don't see any reason in principle that these same methods can't be applied in the ocean where Planktos will be working.

  Should the ocean be a target for restoration? If you look into the issues you'll discover that declines of pelagic ocean water quality and biodiversity are of a global scale too.  With implications for ocean ecosystems and commercial fisheries. The two issues are clearly related.

  Loss of open ocean plankton is an alarming idea to confront. Whole regions of the world's oceans seem to be facing `desertification' because of changing land use patterns, shifting currents & winds. Returning nutrients like iron to small patches of the ocean -- and carefully measuring the results -- seems to be one way we can address the problem. Otherwise, what is our alternative?

  It seems to me that preventing pollution by reducing emissions is only part of the answer.  The curative approach, via sequestration and ecosystem restoration, where we remediate damage already done to ocean and atmosphere, has an equally important role to play.

  Tina M.

  On And why wouldn't they? posted 2 years, 6 months ago 6 Responses