"Coastal marshes and wetlands could be part of California’s rules to mitigate effects of coastal development".
"Public developments on the California coast would be required to capture carbon in wetlands or other natural systems under an Assembly bill that calls for projects to add “blue carbon” measures to their mitigation plans.
Blue carbon refers to coastal habitat such as wetlands, marshes, kelp forests and eelgrass beds that capture and store carbon in soil, plant matter and the sea floor.
AB 2593, authored by Assemblymember Boerner Horvath, D-Encinitas, would require projects on public lands to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions by building or contributing to blue carbon projects.
“It’s a way to develop our coastline, while protecting some of California’s remaining unique important areas,” Boerner Horvath said. “Instead of damaging them, we can double down and reinforce the things that are really valuable - seagrass, flora and fauna.”"
Deborah Sullivan Brennan reports for the San Diego Union-Tribune May 2, 2022.
