Connecting Welsh researchers, policymakers and communities with an interest in blue carbon to share information and knowledge, and to accelerate the body of expertise and experience we have in Wales.
The group will meet 3 – 4 times a year. One meeting will be held face-to-face and the rest hosted online.
Agenda for next meeting on 09/12/2025, 10:00 – 11:00; please contact info@epwales.org.uk for access details.
| Time | Session | Who |
| 10:00 | Welcome | Annette Burden |
| 10:05 | Welsh Government update | Caryn LeRoux |
| 10:15 | Blue Carbon Projects Register | Caryn LeRoux |
| 10:25 | SeaSTORE – Impacts of bottom trawling on seabed carbon storage (15 mins + 10 mins Q+A) | Jan Hiddink, Bangor University |
| 10:50 | The Crown Estate: Sedimentary Blue Carbon Research | Jack Price, Crown Estate |
| 11:00 | Open session for forum member updates | All |
| 11:20 | AOB and close. | Annette Burden |
Membership of Group
- Policy-makers and government agencies
- Researchers (academic and external)
- NGOs and conservation organisations
- Businesses and organisations
Purpose of Group
- Raise awareness of people/organisations working on different habitats and for various reasons.
- Presentation of evidence from researchers and others, examples of projects from Wales and beyond
- Sharing of knowledge, skills, and resources.
- Identifying synergies between people’s roles/work/research
- Identify opportunities for collaboration (for further research projects, or knowledge sharing, etc).
- Collation and sharing of data.
- Identify gaps in knowledge/data.
- Ideas for future resourcing of work
- Facilitate flow of information between Welsh Government, NRW and other stakeholders, providing regular policy updates and advice if asked.
- Gives Wales a stronger voice.
Activity
The inaugural meeting was held on 17/09/2024, following the Blue Carbon session at the 2004 Marine and Coastal Evidence Conference.
| National Seagrass Action Plan | Carl Gough | Seagrass Network Cymru |
| Saltmarsh mapping from space | Jenny Williamson | Glynn Vivian Art Gallery; Hannah Cliverd | UK CEH; Rachel Nickerson |
| Selecting sites for costal restoration using the ‘Mini Buoy’ | Dr. Cai Ladd | Swansea University |
| Informing sustainable marine environmental policy through understanding saltmarsh vegetation-nutrient dynamics | Mike Perring | UK CEH |
| Seagrass restoration in North Wales first results | Stijn den Haan | The Fieldwork Company; Reece Halstead |Y Môr a Ni: Welsh Ocean Literacy Coalition |
| Improving species-habitat modelling using Zostera marina | Cami Domy | Swansea University | PhD |