FOCUS: Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary
Emily Player
NOAA image illustrating a map of CHNMS (October 2024)
Background Information
In October, the Biden-Harris administration announced the creation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary just off the Californian coast. The sanctuary was proposed for nomination by the Northern Chumash Tribal Council in 2015 and began designation in 2021 through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Its 4,543-square-mile boundary has designated it as America’s third largest sanctuary out of the seventeen. It shows promise in conserving many aquatic species and in helping President Biden achieve his goal to protect 30% of US lands and waters by 2030.
Its role concerning climate change.
When we conserve our oceans, we protect ecosystem balance and the livelihoods of other species and humans. The Bay Foundation has been working to restore roughly 60 acres of kelp forests in Santa Monica Bay. Kelp forests are critical in acting as efficient carbon sinks, which is essential when discussing carbon neutrality. Through the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, non-renewable practices such as oil drilling will not be permitted near the vicinity, promoting kelp revitalisation and protecting current at-risk species such as sea otters, sea turtles, and blue whales. By allowing biodiverse communities to flourish, climate change mitigation strategies such as resilience and carbon capture are easier to work towards, to then hopefully overcome the amount of carbon being emitted, so that it is easier to halt global warming.
Conclusion: Climate Positivity
The fight for reducing global warming is far from over, but what usually isn’t advertised are the incentives countries have initiated to progress toward reaching The Paris Agreement. The consequences of climate change have been daunting and destructive, but if our mindset, as a world, is enveloped in fear, how could we ever have hope that we could collectively provide a better future? Today, we highlight California's efforts in taking one step further towards a greener future.
Further reading
Reuters Staff. “US Creates New Marine Sanctuary along California Coast.” Reuters, 11 Oct. 2024, www.reuters.com/world/us/us-creates-new-marine-sanctuary-along-california-coast-2024-10-11/.
“A New Marine Protected Area on America’s West Coast: Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.” Noaa.gov, 2024, sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/oct24/chumash-heritage-nms.html.
“Kelp Forest Restoration Project.” The Bay Foundation, www.santamonicabay.org/what-we-do/projects/kelp-forest-restoration-project/.
“Final Environmental Document Issued to Designate Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary - Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.” Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary - Protecting the Heritage of the Central Coast, 6 Sept. 2024, chumashsanctuary.org/2024/09/06/final-environmental-document/.
Alegret, Laia, and Rupert Sutherland. “Oceans Are Better at Storing Carbon than Trees. In a Warmer Future, Ocean Carbon Sinks Could Help Stabilise Our Planet.” The Conversation, theconversation.com/oceans-are-better-at-storing-carbon-than-trees-in-a-warmer-future-ocean-carbon-sinks-could-help-stabilise-our-planet-176154.
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