A research project looking at the marine ecosystem's resilience to climate-change has secured funding for its second year.
Love Rimurimu, started by Mountains to Sea Wellington, runs a spore bank of native seaweeds and pilots different ways to optimise their survival.
Project lead Zoe Studd said a substantial funding boost from the Clare Foundation, combined with existing funds from the Wellington Community Fund, would help as the project headed into its second year.
"Thriving seaweeds means a protected coastline and a healthy marine ecosystem, values that are close to the heart of many locals. Even if people don't understand the role seaweeds play," she said.
NIWA phycologist Dr Roberta D'Archino, who managed the seaweed spores, said the work could now be expanded.
"It'll give us the time we need to test substrates and optimal growth conditions with continuity as well to make all-year-round field observations, critical to understanding Macrocystis (giant kelp) populations at their northern limit."
Clare Foundation chief executive Alice Montague said Love Rimurimu was working towards tangible and meaningful impact.
"The work of this project will set the standard for marine environmental care for generations to come. We hope it will also help us begin to understand the role that restoring marine biodiversity may play in sequestering carbon and mitigating climate change impacts."
The project also runs an education programme and works with volunteer citizen-science groups.
Source: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/470398/native-seaweed-research-project-secures-substantial-funding
