Team
Projektmanagement:
Scientific Staff:
DEFINE
DEFINE I
DEvelopment oF Integrated measures for Nature conservation and Ecosystems
Climate Change impacts on marine ecosystems in the Baltic and North Sea and insights into the potential carbon uptake of marine ecosystems - a literature study on the state of research
Project duration: 01.10.21 - 31.12.22
Within the framework of the project, the current state of knowledge on the climate change impacts on marine ecosystems in the Baltic and North Sea as well as insights on the potential carbon uptake of marine ecosystems was compiled. For this purpose, a comprehensive literature research on a national and international scope was carried out, making the current and published research on climate change in marine and coastal ecosystems and their carbon uptake available and evaluating the findings.
In addition to the already published findings from the scientific literature, insights from experts of thematically relevant projects and research institutions were included into this study.
The study thus provides an overview of the current state of science and the opportunities for active climate protection in the marine ecosystems of the North Sea and Baltic Sea. The resulting findings on regional conditions serve as a starting point for identified open questions regarding the protection, quantification and promotion of national Blue Carbon potentials.
The following scientific publications are related to this work:
Natur und Landschaft, 99: Blue-Carbon-Potenziale der deutschen Nord- und Ostsee
DEFINE II
Research and evaluation of potential measures to increase the carbon uptake of marine ecosystems with regard to their ecological impacts and nature conservation opportunities in the German North Sea
Project duration: 15.11.22 - 31.07.2026
Based on the Blue Carbon Potential Study for Germany, the follow-up project DEFINE II was developed. This is based on selected open questions and aims to provide initial findings to answer them.
The project is divided into three work packages:
WP I: Research and evaluation of the natural carbon storage potential of biogenic reefs (mussel and oyster reefs) in the German North Sea
AP II: Research and evaluation of the effects of a selected marine CO2 removal technique (Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement) on benthic filter-feeding organisms
WP III: Ongoing and targeted knowledge transfer to the BfN on current findings on Blue Carbon ecosystems and habitats as well as marine CDR (Carbon Dioxide Removal) techniques in Germany
Infobox
BLUE CARBON
Depending on their properties, ecosystems possess various mechanisms for carbon absorption. This absorption potential is defined as Blue Carbon and describes the carbon marine and coastal ecosystems store (permanently) in sediments, thus removing them from the atmosphere.
The project is funded by the BfN with funds from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection.
