World Environment Day 2026
Bahrain 
First Global Marine Application of the Animating the Carbon Cycle Framework: Dugongs Could Enhance Seagrass Carbon Storage
Dugongs more than double the carbon capture and storage potential of Bahrain’s seagrass ecosystems, according to a groundbreaking new study published in Frontiers in Marine Science.
The research represents a global first: the first application of the Animating the Carbon Cycle (ACC) framework to a marine ecosystem. Led by Professor Oswald Schmitz of the Yale School of the Environment and Dr. Reem AlMealla of Nuwat for Environmental Research & Education, the study explored how wildlife can influence ecosystem processes that support carbon capture and storage.
The findings suggest that healthy dugong populations can significantly enhance the ecological processes that underpin carbon capture and storage in seagrass ecosystems. In Bahrain’s focal study area, the presence of dugongs was estimated to increase net ecosystem carbon balance and sediment carbon storage by approximately 2.4 times compared to conditions where dugongs are absent.
For Bahrain, home to one of the world’s largest aggregations of dugongs, these findings provide important evidence that biodiversity conservation and climate action are deeply interconnected.
As specialist grazers of seagrass, dugongs influence ecosystem functioning through nutrient recycling, grazing dynamics, and interactions with the seabed. These ecological processes can enhance seagrass productivity and support greater carbon capture and storage over time.
“When we protect species like dugongs, we are also protecting natural systems that store carbon, support biodiversity, and strengthen resilience for coastal communities,” said Matthew Collis, Senior Director of Policy at IFAW.
The findings contribute to a growing body of evidence that wildlife can play an important role in supporting the ecological processes that drive carbon capture and storage, a role that remains largely overlooked in many climate policy frameworks.
From Research to Policy
Beyond advancing scientific understanding, the ACC project is already helping inform national environmental policy in Bahrain.
The evidence generated through this research contributed to the inclusion of the ACC project within Bahrain’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), recognising the role that healthy ecosystems and wildlife can play in supporting climate resilience and nature-based solutions.
The findings are also helping to inform ongoing efforts that aim to update and align Bahrain’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) with the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). As the Kingdom works towards achieving its biodiversity and climate commitments, the project provides a valuable example of how evidence-based research can help align conservation, climate action, and sustainable development goals.
By demonstrating the connections between wildlife, ecosystem function, and carbon capture, the ACC project highlights the importance of integrating biodiversity considerations into climate policy and climate considerations into biodiversity planning.
Recommendations for Conservation and Climate Action
The study identifies several priorities that can help strengthen the contribution of marine ecosystems to biodiversity conservation and climate resilience:
- Continue implementing nature-based solutions.
- Study environmentally sensitive areas and critical habitats.
- Improve ecosystem and species monitoring systems.
- Enhance the capacity of national personnel and institutions.
- Expand research on the ACC within marine ecosystems.
“Including wildlife as part of climate solutions is therefore an opportunity to align marine conservation with climate action and sustainable development,” added Dr. Reem AlMealla, co-author and founder of Nuwat for Environmental Research & Education, Bahrain’s first ecological research and conservation think tank.
Protecting and maintaining healthy populations of key species like dugongs represents effective and holistic climate action in places such as Bahrain, while rewilding these species where they have been lost can help restore the ecological processes that support climate resilience.
As the study emphasizes: to be climate resilient is to have an ocean full of life.
Proud to Be Part of This Pioneering Work
Nuwat is immensely proud to have co-led this pioneering research. The study represents the first global application of the ACC framework to a marine ecosystem and demonstrates how locally generated science from Bahrain can contribute to global conversations on biodiversity, climate resilience, nature-based solutions, and rewilding.
As Bahrain’s first ecological research and conservation think tank, Nuwat remains committed to generating evidence that supports effective conservation, informs policy, and empowers decision-makers to protect the Kingdom’s natural heritage for future generations.
The study was led by Professor Oswald Schmitz of the Yale School of the Environment and Dr. Reem AlMealla of Nuwat for Environmental Research & Education, in collaboration with the Global Rewilding Alliance and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) who supported the project alongside BNP Paribas.
We extend our sincere thanks to all partners, collaborators, researchers, field teams, and institutions that contributed to this work and continue to champion science-based conservation and climate action.