Seaweed can capture carbon from the atmosphere up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests. In fact, one report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), observed that mangroves, salt marshes and sea grass meadows can store far more carbon per hectare than most terrestrial ecosystems.A type of seaweed known as kelp is being developed for its nutritional value and its ability to absorb and lock away huge quantities of carbon dioxide. Seaweed absorbs CO2 more effectively than trees. It also improves water quality by extracting harmful nutrients such as nitrogen from the sea. Seaweed aquaculture contributes to climate change adaptation by damping wave energy and protecting shorelines, and by elevating pH and supplying oxygen to the waters, thereby locally reducing the effects of ocean acidification and de-oxygenation. Because seaweed is a primary producer and makes its food from the sun, many organisms feed on the kelp and then in turn feed other animals. While kelp is food for many organisms, kelp also provides shelter for many forms of sea life. Seaweed can also be processed into land-based “carbon dioxide removal and storage-products” that remove CO2 long term from the carbon cycle

Seaweed aquaculture can significantly reduce excess nitrogen flowing into coastal waters, while replacing synthetic fertilizers with biostimulants made from seaweed would reduce the amount of nitrogen entering the ocean from agricultural sources. The major industrial applications of seaweeds are as a source of agar, agarose and carrageenan used in laboratories, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, cardboard, paper, paint and processed foods. Seaweed just as important as mangroves for carbon storageshown that sea grass and mangroves count for up to half of the carbon stored at the bottom of the sea, which has been taken out of the atmosphere. The seaweeds create forage and refuge habitat for commercially important fish and diversity of marine life. Seaweeds also act as a sponge soaking up what's in the water. These marine plants could potentially be cultivated to reduce heavy metals and other coastal pollutants. As it grows, seaweed absorbs carbon from the water around it. When used in animal feed, some seaweed have helped to reduce methane produced by livestock. If seaweed can be farmed at scale, there is the potential for meaningful local impacts. The humble seaweed has attracted serious attention as a potential solution to restore the climate due to its remarkable ability to absorb carbon dioxide the primary greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. One of mangroves' biggest strengths lies in their ability to capture and store carbon. The muddy soil that mangroves live in is extremely carbon-rich and over time the mangroves help to not only add to this store of soil by capturing sediment but hold it and the carbon in place. The mangrove ecosystem also supports an incredible diversity of creatures including some species unique to mangrove forests. They provide habitat and refuge to a wide array of wildlife such as birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals and plants.Although mangroves make up less than one per cent of all tropical forests around the world, they have a critical role in mitigating climate change. Mangrove soils are highly effective carbon sinks, locking away large quantities of carbon and stopping it from entering the atmosphere. Two key adaptations they have are the ability to survive in waterlogged and anoxic (no oxygen) soil, and the ability to tolerate brackish waters. Some mangroves remove salt from brackish estuarine waters through ultra-filtration in their roots.

Mangrove grow extensive root system in the clay/mud. This mud is poor of oxygen, the reason why mangrove has pneumatophores. Even after the plant die, the roots are still there as carbon storage. This is pretty much similar to peat swamp.

Thanks Dr Muhammad Iqbal for participating in the discussion.

Seaweeds are nutritious and an environmentally friendly source of biomass for food, health products and animal feed. They help reduce the environmental footprint of other industries and stimulate collaboration for better use of resources and more sustainable products.The humble seaweed has attracted serious attention as a potential solution to restore the climate due to its remarkable ability to absorb carbon dioxide the primary greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. The humble seaweed has attracted serious attention as a potential solution to restore the climate due to its remarkable ability to absorb carbon dioxide—the primary greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. Not only does it release oxygen into the atmosphere, but seaweed also absorbs and stores carbon, helping us combat climate change. Seaweed absorbs CO2 more effectively than treesand it's estimated that it stores around 175 million tonnes of carbon each year that’s equal to 10% of the world's car emissions. Seaweeds can capture carbon from the atmosphere up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests. In fact, one report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), observed that mangroves, salt marshes and seagrass meadows can store far more carbon per hectare than most terrestrial ecosystems.Due to their ability to absorb carbon, mangrove forests are known as 'carbon sinks' or 'carbon-rich biomes'. By storing excess carbon, they help reduce global warming as there is less carbon dioxide trapped in the atmosphere. Seagrass is the world's only flowering plant capable of living in seawater and an incredible ally in the fight against climate change. Globally, seagrass captures carbon up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests, accounting for 10-18% of total ocean carbon storage despite covering less than 0.1% of the seafloor. Mangroves provide natural infrastructure and protection to nearby populated areas by preventing erosion and absorbing storm surge impacts during extreme weather events such as hurricanes. They are also important to the ecosystem too. Their dense roots help bind and build soils.