Abstract
Communicating the value of blue carbon ecosystems requires sound knowledge of biology, remote sensing, carbon assessment, policy, and approaches to restoration. We describe a successful training program where young professionals from developing countries are hosted in Australia and taught to communicate blue carbon science to researchers, policy makers, and the public. Across several programs, some run during the COVID-19 pandemic, participants increased their knowledge of important areas of blue carbon science by 58% to 74%. This integrative teaching platform gives participants the knowledge and skills needed to help solve the major challenges to the marine environment in their home countries.
Keywords
Introduction
One of the key components to successful bilateral engagement and scientific communication is the sharing of knowledge through capacity building programs (Burns et al., 2003; Cook et al., 2013). Knowledge transfer can help to effectively utilize resources (both financial and labor) and lead to outcomes that tackle environmental challenges, especially those faced by developing countries (Roux et al., 2006). It can also help focus action on the most pressing issues for conservation within a particular country, rather than those perceived to be important in the developed world (i.e., “decolonizing conservation science”; de Gracia, 2021). Science communication and outreach are essential to train the next generation of scientists and raise public awareness for science (Kompella et al., 2020), but to truly build and create trust over the long term, programs must be tied to national and local needs (Harris, 2004). The role of training to help build capacity in scientific knowledge and science policy has barely been discussed in the science communication literature (Trench & Miller, 2012).
The term “blue carbon” refers to the organic carbon stored in the biomass (e.g., leaves, trunks, branches, and roots) and soils of coastal vegetated ecosystems, including mangrove forests, saltmarsh, and seagrass meadows (Gorman et al., 2022). These ecosystems are important for coastal biodiversity, shoreline protection, livelihood creation, and carbon sequestration which can help to mitigate the effects of climate change (Lovelock & Duarte, 2019). However, much of the scientific expertise is centered in the developed world (e.g., Europe, the Americas, and Australia), because of greater access historically to resources (e.g., equipment, vessels, and survey skills; Egerton, 2019), and mature policy mechanisms that protect and conserve blue carbon resources (De Silva et al., 1986). While many parts of the developing world are doing exceptionally well with the resources at hand, others lack the expertise to participate fully in ocean science activities (Harden-Davies & Snelgrove, 2020). Knowledge-based training that encompasses the full range of coastal ecosystems (as they occur within each country) is vital to establish “home grown” capacity to sustainably manage blue carbon resources.
This commentary describes a training program led by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) which has the goal of building capacity in blue carbon science throughout the Indo-Pacific region. We discuss (a) the pre-requisites, logistics, and challenges to running a successful fellowship; (b) the general themes that provide underlying knowledge through formal lectures and hands-on training; and (c) the outcomes and perceived value of this training program. Overall, the initiative provides an integrative experience that gives participants confidence to apply these learnings in their home countries.
Capacity Building Through Fellowships
Selecting Fellows
Selecting candidates for the fellowships requires an understanding of the key people working in the field of blue carbon science within each county. This means identifying the government and non-government groups responsible for policy development, research, and management. This is not always simple, as countries have different structures and partnerships, for example, in Sri Lanka, where the Navy is very active in conservation and restoration activities (Sri Lanka Navy, 2021). Once the main stakeholders have been identified, senior people such as managers and supervisors (or coordinating ministries in the case of governments) nominate candidates who are then selected based on their background and track record. Efforts are made to ensure people are chosen from different cultural groups and include equal representation by women. Once selected, formal letters of invitation are sent out, and participants are provided with resources and a final agenda, prior to receiving help with all aspects of the travel arrangements, including entry VISAs, insurance, travel, and accommodation.
Content Preparation and Adaption
The specific content of each fellowship is governed by country and/or stakeholder priorities. Previous fellowships have included representation by Government research agencies (56%), other government departments (17%), the university sector (6%), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs; 11%), and the private sector (11%). To cater for these differences, the program includes a range of activities including lectures by leading experts in blue carbon science, field-based and laboratory training, and collaborative writing projects. Course content is designed to reflect the current needs of each country, and typically devotes considerable time to (a) blue carbon ecosystem biology and ecology, (b) earth observation and remote sensing, (c) carbon measurement and analysis, (d) policy and climate change mitigation, (e) evaluation of ecosystem goods and services, and (f) ecosystem conservation and restoration (Figure 1). There is also a strong desire to enhance cultural understanding through shared experience, communication, and recreation. Participants learn about the history and traditions of first nations (aboriginal) people as well as contemporary Australian culture. There are also opportunities for sightseeing, tasting culinary delights, discovering unique wildlife, and experiencing historic city centers.
Main Components of the Fellowship Program That Can Be Tailored According to the Specific Priorities of Developing Countries or Stakeholder Groups.
Fellowship Components
Blue Carbon Ecosystem Biology and Ecology
Here, participants are introduced to the fundamentals of blue carbon ecosystem biology, ecology, and global trends in a way that is digestible and easy to convey to scientists, policy makers, and the public and private sector. This is introduced through the broader concept of “blue carbon,” before covering the global distribution and species richness patterns of each ecosystem, their status and historical losses, ecosystem services and science policy underlying protection and conservation. Theory sessions coincide with visits to representative examples of these ecosystems, such as seagrasses in Western Australia and mangroves in Queensland.
Earth Observation and Remote Sensing
This component provides the necessary background to mapping and monitored using satellite and airborne imagery (Phinn et al., 2008), acoustics (Gumusay et al., 2019), and direct observations (McKenzie, 2003). This is important, given that the first step in managing these resources is an accurate understanding of how wide an area they cover and how this may change over time. Participants process relevant data from satellite image archives (Navarro et al., 2021) and use this to interpret trends that can initiate a broader research agenda. Fellows are introduced to geoprocessing software like ArcGIS and QGIS which are used to interpret temporal trends, such as habitat clearance which is a major concern in many developing countries. The component concludes with an introduction into some of the statistical approaches that can be used to extrapolate field observations to regional or national scale inventories (Heymans et al., 2014).
Policy and Climate Change Mitigation
In this component, participants are introduced to law, legal protections, and climate change policy at a national through to international level (e.g., International Partnership for Blue Carbon). It covers international governance structures, policies relating to the conservation and protection of blue carbon ecosystems, frameworks around nationally determined contributions (NDCs), climate change trends and predictions according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and concepts around carbon accounting and finance mechanisms (e.g., through voluntary markets).
Carbon Measurement and Analysis
This component exposes participants to the fundamentals of project planning, field data collection, processing, and analyzing carbon stock data from different blue carbon ecosystems. It includes lectures, field demonstrations (i.e., visits to mangrove forests and seagrass meadows), sample processing, and laboratory skills. Typically, participants visit field sites where they are shown the methods for collecting above- and below-ground biomass and soil (sediment) carbon using a range of equipment. This is often one of the most exciting components for the participants as many have never been exposed to the practicalities of field data collection. This is followed by practical sessions on the methods for analyzing and interpreting results (e.g., to develop carbon inventories).
Ecosystem Goods and Services
This component introduces the methods used to evaluate the socio-ecological goods and services derived from blue carbon ecosystems. It provides an overview of the various regulating, provisioning, cultural, and supporting services for humans and the environment. Typically, it focuses on understanding how coastal habitats support fisheries production and livelihoods (topical issues for many countries in the Indo-Pacific region) using tools such as the Asset Drivers, Well-Being Interaction Matrix (ADWIM), which can be used to measure current and future impacts on these vital ecosystem services (Skewes et al., 2016). This component also quantifies the value of blue carbon as a means of mitigating increased CO2 emissions as well as their function in protecting communities and infrastructure from natural disasters such as cyclones, tsunamis, floods, and storms (Beck et al., 2018).
Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration
This component provides an overview of the approaches for protecting and restoring coastal blue carbon ecosystems using nature-based solutions. Restoration experts guide participants through traditional approaches to restoration (e.g., seedlings raised in nurseries), before moving on to some of the emerging techniques (e.g., use of propagules; Vanderklift et al., 2020). It also provides a review of best-practice approaches to site selection (zonation and remediation of degraded sites), plant husbandry, planting methods (e.g., spacing and after-care), and how to avoid the most common causes of project failure. The most recent fellowship also included a visit to the Blue Heart project site in Queensland Australia, where participants were able to see firsthand, the successful outcomes of tidal reintroduction.
Outcomes and Ongoing Collaborations
The goal of the fellowship program is to provide participants with sound knowledge of all aspects of blue carbon science (Figure 2), which they can then use to advance efforts in their home countries. This is preferable to the notion of “scientific colonialism” (de Vos, 2020) in which foreign researchers send teams to developing countries to conduct or supervise research, and thereby undermine local capabilities. The flexibility in the program addresses the need to promote and adopt a knowledge system that reflects the current understanding and needs of each country on a case-by-case basis (Roux et al., 2006). The program provides the necessary skills to support the science required to solve specific challenges and achieve national goals. A self-evaluation of knowledge gained through the program suggests that fellows dramatically improved their knowledge and skills across all core aspects of the program (Figure 3). In this way, the program joins with other successful efforts for capacity building in areas such as the blue economy (e.g., World Wildlife Funds Education for Nature fellowships), sustainable development (e.g., Global Vision International Sustainable Development Fellowships), and climate resilience (e.g., Sustainable Ocean Alliance—Leadership for climate-resilient fisheries fellowship).
Fellowship Activities Encompass a Range of Areas Including (A) Lectures by Leading Experts in Blue Carbon Science, (B) In-Water Field Approaches Such as Those in Seagrass Meadows, (C) Intertidal Field Sampling, (D) Exposure to Traditional and Contemporary Culture, (E) Laboratory Processes, and (F) Group and Collaborative Writing Projects.
Increase in Perceived Level of Knowledge of the Main Components of the Fellowship, Evaluated Through Feedback Questionnaires Completed by All Participants of the Sri Lanka and Pacific Blue Carbon Fellowships.
Leaders in Their Respective Countries
Many previous fellows have gone on to take up senior roles in their respective organizations, which not only improves their personal situation, but also allows them to contribute more fully to the science underpinning blue carbon ecosystems at a national level. Past participants in research backgrounds often go on to conduct much-needed research and publish peer-reviewed literature in their respective areas, while those from administrative positions and the private sector can help to develop policy and encourage behavior that protects, conserves, and leads to the sustainable use of these ecosystems. Indeed, given that successful dissemination is vital to communicate policy outcomes (Mea et al., 2016), the increased knowledge of all aspects of blue carbon science can facilitate more effective dialogue between research and policy spheres to encourage the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity (Young et al., 2014).
Adaptability and Tailoring to Specific Needs
The fellowships are designed to be adaptable to changing circumstances, using a hybrid approach that integrates virtual content and in-person attendance. This matches recent calls to design and deliver webinars to improve science communication and engagement (Mazur et al., 2021) and acknowledges the need for online training options in addition to, or replacing, face-to-face learning (Scavarda et al., 2021). The COVID-19 pandemic is a relevant case in point, as it initially caused interruption to the Sri Lanka fellowship scheduled for March 2020. However, momentum was maintained through online webinars, until international travel resumed in mid-2022, and the fellowship was run in “COVID bubbles” that ensured the health and safety of participants, facilitators, and staff. This approach had surprising advantages, with in-person and web-based seminar sessions being done in shared rented villas which produced a more relaxed and congenial atmosphere that offered ample opportunity for questions and extended discussions. Key to the hybrid approach is the need to ensure that in-person and virtual presentations are interspersed to prevent burn-out and ensuring sufficient time for questions and discussion.
One of the strengths of the blue carbon fellowships is that they are tailored to specific needs. Thus, the time dedicated to each of the principal components varies according to the priorities of the group and their backgrounds. For example, the Indonesian fellowship held in 2019 included participants primarily from government departments, and thus there was a desire to learn more about governance structures and policy; while the Sri Lankan fellowship held in 2022 included participants from a purely research background, so there was a need to spend considerably more time on the science underpinning conservation and restoration (a current national priority). In this way, participants gain the real-world skills they need to address priority areas in their own country and specific organizations.
Conclusion
Blue carbon fellowships are an effective way of building capacity in developing countries where skills in blue carbon science are currently lacking. The approach is adaptable and tailored to suit the needs of counties and participants involved, giving them the skills to address priorities in their own countries. It helps participants communicate blue carbon science broadly to researchers, government policy makers, and the public and private sector. Overall, the fellowship program fosters new knowledge networks and lasting collaborations among future professionals who along with their Australian neighbors will be positioned to face the socio-environmental challenges of the next few decades.
Footnotes
Declaration of Conflicting Interests
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Funding
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)—through the “IORA—Blue Carbon Hub,” and the “Sri Lanka—Australia,” “Indonesia—Australia,” and “Pacific”—blue carbon programs. The impetus behind the work is a desire to build capacity in blue carbon science through a specialized fellowship program for participants from neighboring countries within the Indo-Pacific region. The authors acknowledge the vision of Dr Mat Vanderklift who was pivotal to the development and success of the program.
