Norwegian Blue Forests Network (photo: Jonas Thormar)

Blue Forests Blog

Blue Forest Blog

Annual Report 2024
 In 2024, the Norwegian Blue Forests Network (NBFN) advanced blue forest restoration and conservation knowledge through key initiatives, including the Tromsø conference, which brought together experts[...] Read more
Date: 11 April 2025
Tomorrow is World Seagrass Day – why should we care?
 To mark the third annual World Seagrass Day (1 March), we dive into this important habitat. Found in shallow coastal areas across the world, seagrass meadows may seem like unassuming habitats, but the[...] Read more
Date: 28 February 2025
The Norwegian Blue Forests Network (NBFN) unveiled the latest edition of its annual Top 10 Trends for Blue Forests report at its annual breakfast seminar in Oslo, 6 February 2025
 Spotlight on the Latest Trends Speakers from the Institute of Marine Research (IMR), GRID-Arendal, and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) delivered presentations on the ten most signifi[...] Read more
Date: 26 February 2025
Top 10 Trends for Blue Forests 2024
 Top 10 Trends 2024 report   The Norwegian Blue Forests Network continues its annual tradition of gathering experts to highlight the year’s most significant trends in blue forest research, mana[...] Read more
Date: 11 February 2025
Blue Forests and COP29
 Despite coming off a record-breaking year of global temperatures, COP29 was not a game-changer and lacked bold ambitions. Still, it moved the needle forward on key issues such as financing and carbon [...] Read more
Date: 11 December 2024
New research brings us one step closer to making seaweed an ‘actionable’ blue carbon ecosystem
 A new study finds that seaweed forests are responsible for 3-4% of the global ocean carbon sink. Norway’s vast kelp forests have an important climate mitigation role to play – particularly in the [...] Read more
Date: 31 May 2024
Top 10 Trends for Blue Forests 2023
 Top 10 Trends 2023 report   Continuing the tradition from last year, the Norwegian Blue Forest Network has gathered marine experts to assemble their joint overview of the greatest trends for blue[...] Read more
Date: 14 February 2024
Blue Forests & COP28
 Blue forests & COP28: overview of Oceans, Blue Forests and Blue Carbon events Gro Slotsvik – GRID-Arendal   The annual UN climate Conference of the Parties (COP) took place in Dubai on 30 N[...] Read more
Date: 06 December 2023
30 by 30: how to restore the kelp forests?
 30 BY 30: HOW TO RESTORE THE KELP FORESTS? Barbro Taraldset Haugland – Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Norway   A couple of years into the UN Decade of Ocean Science, there is increased foc[...] Read more
Date: 01 November 2023
NBFN at Arendalsuka 2023
 NBFN AT ARENDALSUKA 2023 During Arendalsuka, experts, politicians, and industry representatives gathered in  GRID-Arendal’s back garden to discuss what it will take to further develop the seaweed i[...] Read more
Date: 25 September 2023
The Kelp Industry: Opportunities, barriers & next steps
 THE KELP INDUSTRY: OPPORTUNITIES, BARRIERS, AND NEXT STEPS Authors: Sunniva Tangen Haldorsen (NIVA), Gunhild Borgersen (NIVA), Arne Duinker (IMR), Peter Haugan (IMR), Cecilie Wathne (Norwegian Blue Fo[...] Read more
Date: 10 August 2023
Seaweed, Kelp and Sustainable Food Production: Opportunities and barriers for the industry
 Arendalsuka 2023 event Seaweed, Kelp and Sustainable Food Production: Opportunities and barriers for the industry Wednesday, August 8th from 19:00 – 20:30 at the GRID-Arendal back garden Event will [...] Read more
Date: 06 July 2023
Norwegian Executive Summary of Into the Blue: Securing a Sustainable Future for Kelp Forests
 Norwegian Executive Summary of Into the Blue: Securing a Sustainable Future for Kelp Forests Into the Blue: Securing a Sustainable Future for Kelp Forests global synthesis report is the most comprehen[...] Read more
Date: 30 May 2023
NFBN Spring 2023 Newsletter
 NBFN SPRING 2023 NEWSLETTER Welcome to the NBFN’s biannual newsletter. Click on the image to view the Spring 2023 edition in PDF. Subscribe to our email list to receive our newsletter directly i[...] Read more
Date: 27 April 2023
Into the Blue: Securing a Sustainable Future for Kelp Forests
 FULL REPORT – ENGLISH EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTO THE BLUE: SECURING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR KELP FORESTS Into the Blue: Securing a Sustainable Future for Kelp Forests global synthesis report is the[...] Read more
Date: 26 April 2023
Launch Event: Webinar for UNEP Reports on Kelp and Mangrove Forests
 LAUNCH EVENT: WEBINAR FOR UNEP REPORTS ON KELP AND MANGROVE FORESTS Join UNEP and partners GRID-Arendal, the Norwegian Blue Forests Network and UNEP-WCMC for a webinar on May 2nd 15.00 CEST to launch [...] Read more
Date: 26 April 2023
Norway is betting on blue forests
 Norway is betting on blue forests By Cecilie Wathne (NBFN), Torill Sateroy (GRID-Arendal, NBFN) and Brian Tsuyoshi Takeda (Urchinomics) One Ocean Week got off to a strong start with the Norwegian gov[...] Read more
Date: 18 April 2023
High integrity nature-based carbon offsetting is vital in the fight against climate change
 High Integrity Nature-Based Carbon Offsetting is Vital in the Fight Against Climate Change By Steven Lutz, Senior Programme Officer and Blue Carbon Lead, GRID-Arendal. Repost from GRID-Arendal The con[...] Read more
Date: 12 April 2023
Sugar kelp forests on the directorates’ rescue list
 SUGAR KELP FORESTS ON THE DIRECTORATES’ RESCUE LIST By Trine Bekkby, Eli Rinde, and Hege Gundersen – Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) Sugar kelp forests along the Norwegian coast are [...] Read more
Date: 01 March 2023
Annual Report 2022
 ANNUAL REPORT 2022 English version The importance of coastal ecosystems, including blue forests, continued to gain prominence in 2022. The UN Climate Change Conference (COP 27) final declaration inclu[...] Read more
Date: 27 February 2023
NBFN’s Top Ten Trends Article Launched at Oslo Seminar
 NBFN’S TOP TEN TRENDS ARTICLE LAUNCHED AT OSLO SEMINAR Audience participating in the seminar Q&A session  On February 1st, NBFN held a breakfast seminar in Oslo to launch the network’s latest[...] Read more
Date: 03 February 2023
Top Ten Trends of 2022
 NBFN’S TOP TEN TRENDS OF 2022 2022 was a year of contrasts. On the one hand, there was growing interest in blue forests-related issues such as the blue economy, marine protection, and how the oc[...] Read more
Date: 06 January 2023
Oceans & Blue Carbon at COP27
 OCEANS & BLUE CARBON AT COP27 This live blog features oceans, blue forests, and coastal and oceanic blue carbon related side events at UNFCCC COP27 (6 – 18 Nov). This post will be updated th[...] Read more
Date: 14 November 2022
Norwegian blue forests: What is being done, what more is needed?
 NORWEGIAN BLUE FORESTS: WHAT IS BEING DONE, WHAT MORE IS NEEDED? (HYBRID EVENT) We need blue forests. Kelp forests, seagrass meadows, and salt marshes capture and sequester carbon, boost biodiversity,[...] Read more
Date: 29 September 2022
Unsung heroes: the hidden value of seagrass meadows
 Unsung heroes: the hidden value of seagrass meadows Seagrass meadows are important for climate change mitigation, biodiversity, fisheries, food security, coastal protection, and much more. Yet they co[...] Read more
Date: 29 September 2022
Learning from the Meadows: Pathways for seagrass conservation and restoration
 Learning from the Meadows: Pathways for seagrass conservation and restoration We need to stop, and ideally reverse, the rapid and continued decline of seagrass meadows. Doing so requires placing a gre[...] Read more
Date: 29 September 2022
Blue Forests of Oslo: Planting seagrass with children to save the fjord (Hybrid event)
 BLUE FORESTS OF OSLO: PLANTING SEAGRASS WITH CHILDREN TO SAVE THE FJORD (HYBRID EVENT) Location: Oslofjord Museum (or digital) Date: 29 September 2022 at 08.45 – 09.45 Register: Form here Eelgrass b[...] Read more
Date: 26 September 2022
Watch Blue Forests Week 2022
 BLUE FORESTS WEEK 2022 recordings Follow along with each day’s live events and watch all recordings available after each session.  Webinar #1  Tuesday, November 29th Unsung heroes: The hidden [...] Read more
Date: 20 September 2022
GEAK Network Holds First Workshop
 GEAK NETWORK HOLDS FIRST WORKSHOP GEAK workshop participants gathered at the Institute of Marine Research in Arendal, Norway In June 2022, the Global Ecosystem services Assessment from Kelp forests ([...] Read more
Date: 25 July 2022
Annual Report 2021
 A competence network established by the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), GRID-Arendal and the Institute of Marine Research (IMR[...] Read more
Date: 20 May 2022