Blue Carbon Horizons Team leader Associate Professor Kerrylee Rogers was naturally ecstatic.
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But not just because the University of Wollongong led research team behind the study that found coastal wetlands capture more carbon as sea levels rise, won the 2019 NSW Environment, Energy and Science (DPIE) Eureka Prize for Environmental Research.
Professor Rogers from UOW's School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, said more importantly the win highlighted the important work of scientists from UOW, Macquarie University and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).
"Our research has shown that protecting natural ecosystems can help us in the fight against climate change, however this battle can only be won if we also transition our economies away from fossil fuels now," Prof Rogers said.
The Blue Carbon Horizons Team also includes UOW pair Dr Jeffrey Kelleway and Professor Colin Woodroffe, Professor Neil Saintilan (Macquarie University), Dr Debashish Mazumder (ANSTO) and Atun Zawadzki (ANSTO).
Winners of the 2019 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes were announced at a gala award dinner at Sydney Town Hall on Wednesday night.
Prof Rogers, who accepted the award on behalf of the team, thanked the institutions and funding bodies that supported the research.
"Our research was only possible with the support of our respective research institutions: the University of Wollongong, Macquarie University and ANSTO; as well as collaborators around the world and funding bodies, including the Australian Research Council," she said.
"We would especially like to thank the scientists and practitioners who supported our nomination: Emily Pidgeon of Conservation International, who is a fearless advocate for restoration and conservation of blue carbon ecosystems globally, as well as, Professor Catherine Lovelock, Dr Ken Krauss, Mr Patrick Dwyer and Dr Tertius Kluyver."
Working with colleagues from the Smithsonian Institution, USA, and Nelson Mandela University, South Africa, the team gathered data from 345 locations worldwide, showing that historically, sea-level rise has increased the amount of carbon stored in wetlands.
"Our team dug in to the global sedimentary record and found that both historic and current sea-level rise has substantially increased the amount of 'blue carbon' sequestered by coastal wetlands," Prof Rogers said.
"In a time of accelerating sea-level rise, our findings provide a powerful incentive for wetland conservation and restoration in Australia and across the globe."