Assessing the Carbon Sequestration Potential of Coastal Natural Infrastructure in the Chesapeake Bay Region

This sub-product is intended to synthesize existing research and datasets for assessing the blue carbon characteristics of natural infrastructure currently in Chesapeake Bay, with a focus on the blue carbon habitats and natural infrastructure relevant for the Crisfield, MD community. The scope of this project will evolve based on feedback from the Crisfield community and local/state partners, including the Chesapeake Bay Program.  Results of this synthesis effort will be presented to the Chesapeake Bay community, partners, and stakeholders.  Synthesis results will likely focus on applying existing blue carbon information to inform natural infrastructure management.

Impact/Purpose

This is a presentation to the Mid-Atlantic Wetlands Working Group 2023 annual meeting.  The presentation summarizes a literature synthesis conducted as part of a Region 3 ROAR project. The synthesis reviews the most essential climate and anthropogenic impacts that Chesapeake Bay blue carbon ecosystems will face, propose strategies that would decrease such impacts to maintain or increase resiliency and sequestration benefits, and suggest ways to incorporate blue carbon into coastal resiliency strategies in the Chesapeake Bay now and in the future.  This was developed to inform decision makers, land managers, fund managers, and other natural resources-related professionals about the carbon sequestration potential of natural infrastructure in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Citation

Dhond, A., R. Kashuba, W. Jenkins, AND S. Pacella. Assessing the Carbon Sequestration Potential of Coastal Natural Infrastructure in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Mid-Atlantic Wetlands Working Group 2023 Annual Meeting, Lancaster, PA, November 14 - 16, 2023.