355
In addition, the temporal and spatial scales on the axes for these functional relationships need to be clearly defined because the shape of the response curve changes
according to the scales set. For example, by considering only the left side of the
Type I logistic curve, we would approximate an exponential increase, whereas the
middle portion of the Type I curve indicates a linear increase and the right side a
saturated (leveled-off) curve. The importance of the temporal scale definition
appears to be supported by several reports showing that it takes 10–20 years in seagrass meadows (Duarte et al. 2013a; Greiner et al. 2013; Marbà et al. 2015), at least
25–100 years in tidal marshes (Craft et al. 2003; Burden et al. 2013), and 20–25 years
in mangroves (Osland et al. 2012; Salmo et al. 2013) for restored sites to achieve the
soil organic carbon pool or accumulation rate of natural sites.
Furthermore, a debate exists about whether such a clear relationship is found in
reality. For instance, some research has shown no significant correlation between
the standing stock of biomass and the amount of organic carbon in soils and sediments (Kennedy et al. 2010; Howard et al. 2018), as reported in Chap. 2 (Miyajima
and Hamaguchi 2018), whereas at least one other study has shown a linear relationship between them (Tanaya et al. 2018). The reason for this contradictory result may
be the use of more sophisticated methods and strategies for sample collections, that
is, utilization of a new device for extracting intact core samples and selection of
well-controlled sampling sites for variables other than biomass (Tanaya et al. 2018).
Finally, converting the vertical axis of the response relationships of Fig. 13.2 into
the amount of benefits and human well-being and the horizontal axis into the costs
(time and money) of implementation would be needed to make use the results of
science and technology for social implementation.
13.3.3 Cooperation Within International Frameworks
To overcome global climate change issues, it is also necessary to develop observation technologies that can be commonly used to acquire standardized datasets
worldwide, targeting long-term, continuous, large-scale data that can be measured
simply and at low cost. Various international research networks and governmental/
intergovernmental scientific research organizations have been established. These
include the International Long Term Ecological Research Network and Future Earth
(described in detail below) for international promotion of large-scale climate change
research using interdisciplinary approaches, in addition to ecosystem monitoring
networks such as the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, the International
Society for Mangrove Ecosystems, the Global Seagrass Monitoring Network, the
Zostera Experimental Network for eelgrasses, and the Kelp Ecosystem Ecology
Network.
In blue carbon studies, it is also important to utilize these existing networks and/
or establish a new global research network in the future. In the field of marine science in the open ocean and high seas, some research organizations have been led by
governments with common interests at the regional scale, such as the North Pacific
13 The Future of Blue Carbon: Addressing Global Environmental Issues
In addition, the temporal and spatial scales on the axes for these functional relationships need to be clearly defined because the shape of the response curve changes
according to the scales set. For example, by considering only the left side of the
Type I logistic curve, we would approximate an exponential increase, whereas the
middle portion of the Type I curve indicates a linear increase and the right side a
saturated (leveled-off) curve. The importance of the temporal scale definition
appears to be supported by several reports showing that it takes 10–20 years in seagrass meadows (Duarte et al. 2013a; Greiner et al. 2013; Marbà et al. 2015), at least
25–100 years in tidal marshes (Craft et al. 2003; Burden et al. 2013), and 20–25 years
in mangroves (Osland et al. 2012; Salmo et al. 2013) for restored sites to achieve the
soil organic carbon pool or accumulation rate of natural sites.
Furthermore, a debate exists about whether such a clear relationship is found in
reality. For instance, some research has shown no significant correlation between
the standing stock of biomass and the amount of organic carbon in soils and sediments (Kennedy et al. 2010; Howard et al. 2018), as reported in Chap. 2 (Miyajima
and Hamaguchi 2018), whereas at least one other study has shown a linear relationship between them (Tanaya et al. 2018). The reason for this contradictory result may
be the use of more sophisticated methods and strategies for sample collections, that
is, utilization of a new device for extracting intact core samples and selection of
well-controlled sampling sites for variables other than biomass (Tanaya et al. 2018).
Finally, converting the vertical axis of the response relationships of Fig. 13.2 into
the amount of benefits and human well-being and the horizontal axis into the costs
(time and money) of implementation would be needed to make use the results of
science and technology for social implementation.
13.3.3 Cooperation Within International Frameworks
To overcome global climate change issues, it is also necessary to develop observation technologies that can be commonly used to acquire standardized datasets
worldwide, targeting long-term, continuous, large-scale data that can be measured
simply and at low cost. Various international research networks and governmental/
intergovernmental scientific research organizations have been established. These
include the International Long Term Ecological Research Network and Future Earth
(described in detail below) for international promotion of large-scale climate change
research using interdisciplinary approaches, in addition to ecosystem monitoring
networks such as the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, the International
Society for Mangrove Ecosystems, the Global Seagrass Monitoring Network, the
Zostera Experimental Network for eelgrasses, and the Kelp Ecosystem Ecology
Network.
In blue carbon studies, it is also important to utilize these existing networks and/
or establish a new global research network in the future. In the field of marine science in the open ocean and high seas, some research organizations have been led by
governments with common interests at the regional scale, such as the North Pacific
13 The Future of Blue Carbon: Addressing Global Environmental Issues