Work Packages

WP1 - Coastal Blue Carbon Ecosystems

This WP aims to:

  • Understand the distribution and functioning of BCEs.

  • Quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and sequestration.

  • Estimate GHG contributions by BCEs. The tasks involve mapping BC ecosystems using drones for ultrahigh-resolution mapping and studying species traits to link community metabolism with the environment and biodiversity.

WP2 - Biogeochemical pathways and fate

This WP aims to:

  • Innovate and establish best practices for measuring, modeling, and monitoring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removal from Blue Carbon Ecosystems (BCEs).

  • Reduce uncertainty in quantifying BCE GHG emissions and sequestration (in collaboration with WP1).

  • Estimate actual and projected GHG contributions by BCEs (also in collaboration with WP1).

The tasks within this work package involve investigating carbon movement, analyzing vertical and horizontal carbon and nitrogen fluxes, and utilizing data for model parameterization. Additionally, the package focuses on modeling BCE sequestration capacity and addressing GHG budgets, including the impact of tidal marsh systems.

WP3 - Managing human impacts

This WP focuses on understanding how human activities impact the sequestration potential of Blue Carbon Ecosystems (BCEs).

The objectives include advancing knowledge in this area and identifying governance, finance, and biogeochemical conditions for sustainable BCE management. The tasks involve analyzing data on carbon stock changes, evaluating greenhouse gas (GHG) contributions, assessing regulatory frameworks, exploring investment opportunities, and optimizing BCE sequestration through spatial planning and behavioral transformations. The work contributes to achieving nature positivity and informs relevant scenarios and simulations.

WP4 - Greenhouse Gas Inventories

This WP aims to:

  • Evaluate current reporting under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and promote increased inclusion of Blue Carbon Ecosystems (BCEs) in national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories.

  • Address gaps in the uptake of Chapter 4 of the IPCC Wetlands Supplement, focusing on understanding drivers and barriers for integrating BCEs into national reporting mechanisms.

  • Generate updated values for GHG emissions and removals associated with specific activities in BCEs, considering factors like biome, climate zone, and soil type.

  • Assess the evidence for potentially actionable BCE habitats in future IPCC inventory guidelines.

  • Collaborate with stakeholders to address implementation challenges and inform international policy processes.

  • Estimate the potential contribution of Blue Carbon Ecosystems (BCEs) to the EU and PR China greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories.

WP5 - Engagement, Communication & Science-Policy Integration

This WP aims to increase awareness of the importance of Blue Carbon Ecosystems (BCEs) through the following tasks:

  • Common frameworks for Stakeholder Engagement: This task coordinates engagement with actors and stakeholders across project activities. It provides an optimized methodology for stakeholder engagement and regular training sessions for partners engaging stakeholders.

  • Synergies with Mission Ocean HEU projects and initiatives: Creating synergies with relevant Horizon Europe projects, this task invites interested projects to co-convene in a joint webinar series called “Blue Carbon Zone.”

  • Capacity building: Enhancing BC research capacity, knowledge, skills, and networks for project partners and non-members. Collaboration with international bodies and researchers is key.

  • International policy: Developing information on BCE health and projections, identifying gaps in ambition and implementation, and promoting sustainable BCE management at international and national levels.

  • Engagement, Communication, and Science Policy Integration: Communicating project aims, objectives, and results to external audiences through a graphical identity, project website, and social media accounts.

WP6 - Project coordination and management

This WP aims to oversee project execution, ensuring effective coordination to achieve project goals, benefits, and expected impact within the specified time, scope, budget, and quality standards.

  • Grant Agreement (GA) and Consortium Agreement (CA): NIVA establishes a core management team and project executive board. They oversee project coordination, risk monitoring, quality assurance, and manage financial, legal, and administrative activities. An External Scientific Advisory Board (EASAB) is appointed, and consortium meetings are organized

  • Coordination with Chinese Project Consortium: The Project Coordinator (PC) collaborates with the Chinese Coordinator to guide joint work with the Chinese consortium. A work and communication plan is developed after project initiation.

  • Scientific Data and Ethics Management: Partners ensure GDPR-compliant data processing and adhere to EU recommendations on Open Access. A Data Management Plan (DMP) is continuously updated, and ethics assessments ensure responsible project implementation.

WP7 - Ethics requirements

This WP aims to ensure compliance with the 'ethics requirements' set out in this work package and that the project must comply with.