Scientists Advocate Seascape‑Scale Restoration to Boost Biodiversity and Climate Goals

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A recent study led by the University of Portsmouth, with collaborators at the Zoological Society of London and the University of Edinburgh, has reinforced the urgency of restoring entire coastal seascapes not just individual habitats to meet biodiversity and climate targets. Research presented at the International Seascape Symposium II emphasises the interconnected nature of marine ecosystems such as oyster reefs, kelp forests, saltmarshes and seagrass meadows. These habitats function as a single, linked system rather than isolated pockets. To effectively support biodiversity and deliver on net‑zero ambitions, the restoration of these environments must be addressed holistically .By adopting a seascape‑scale approach, conservation initiatives can better enhance ecological resilience and climate mitigation. The research underscores that piecemeal restoration strategies may fall short in delivering the scale of impact needed to preserve biodiversity and stabilise coastal carbon sequestration. These ecosystems, restored at scale, offer multiple climate‑relevant co‑benefits—such as carbon storage, flood protection, and habitat connectivity.

This study arrives amid progress in offshore renewable energy, another area where ecological considerations are gathering attention. The Offshore Renewables Joint Industry Programme’s BenCH (Benthic Habitat Changes post‑construction) initiative has been investigating how offshore wind farms affect seabed habitats. The project evaluates key questions including how biodiversity and species composition change post‑construction, what recovery dynamics look like, and whether local ecological functions have been altered.

As the UK moves toward its offshore wind goals 50 gigawatts by 2030, of which around 13.9 GW is already operational and many more GW in development understanding benthic impacts is critical for aligning energy expansion with environmental stewardship.

What this means:
Coastal and marine biodiversity must be restored at the ecosystem, not patch, level to deliver robust benefits for nature and net‑zero targets. Simultaneously, renewable energy infrastructure must be planned and managed with careful consideration of its ecological footprint. Integrated, large‑scale approaches that bridge conservation and energy development are essential to future‑proofing both biodiversity and clean energy ambitions.

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