Photo Credit: Katie Davis Koehn
This landmark report represents a significant achievement for the global kelp forest research and conservation community. Bringing together the knowledge and expertise of scientists and conservation practitioners from around the world, the State of the World’s Kelp Forests Report 2026 provides an important global assessment of the health of these vital ecosystems, the progress being made to protect and restore them, and the challenges that remain. Launched by the Kelp Forest Alliance at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP17) in Yerevan, Armenia, the report is a major collaborative effort to advance scientific understanding, inform conservation priorities, and inspire action to safeguard kelp forests for future generations.
Kelp forests are essential to the health of coastal oceans. They provide habitat and food for a wide variety of marine species, support fisheries and tourism, and contribute to the well-being of coastal communities. Yet these underwater ecosystems face growing pressures from climate change, overfishing, and habitat degradation. By bringing together research and data from around the world, the report highlights both the importance of kelp forests and the urgent need to strengthen efforts to protect and restore them.
Contributing to this important international effort are Dr. Jenn Caselle and Dr. Anita Giraldo Ospina of UC Santa Barbara’s Marine Science Institute, both Principal Investigators affiliated with the institute. Caselle, a Research Scientist, and Giraldo Ospina, her former project scientist and now a Postdoctoral Fellow at UC Santa Barbara, co-authored Chapter 4, Protected Areas. Their work contributes to the report’s global assessment of how much kelp forest habitat falls within marine protected areas and how effectively these areas support the conservation of kelp ecosystems.
Chapter 4: Understanding the global picture of protection
Marine protected areas (MPAs) are an important tool for conserving marine biodiversity. Depending on their rules and management, they can limit activities that harm kelp forests, protect marine species, and maintain ecological relationships that help these ecosystems thrive. For example, protecting predators that keep sea urchin populations in check can help prevent excessive grazing on kelp.
However, simply designating an area as protected does not guarantee that its kelp forests are adequately conserved. The strength of protection, the activities permitted, and how well the area is managed all influence its effectiveness.
Chapter 4 examines the global overlap between kelp forests and protected areas, revealing encouraging progress alongside significant gaps.
- More kelp forests are within protected areas. Approximately 23% of the global kelp biome overlaps with a protected area, an increase from 16% in the 2024 assessment. This represents progress in expanding the geographic coverage of marine conservation.
- Strong protection remains rare. Only 1.2% of the global kelp biome can currently be confidently identified as highly protected, with another 1.86% classified as moderately protected. This highlights the difference between having protected-area boundaries on a map and providing strong protection in practice.
- Progress varies around the world. Of the 36 regions assessed, 13 have more than 30% of their kelp biome within protected areas, while 23 remain below that level. Regions such as Aotearoa New Zealand, parts of the Arctic, eastern Canada, China, and Tasmania have notable gaps in coverage.
- Important information is still missing. For roughly one-third of kelp habitat located within protected areas, the level of protection is unknown. Incomplete habitat maps and limited information about protected-area management make it difficult to determine how effectively these areas conserve kelp forests.
Together, these findings show that while the global expansion of protected areas is an important step forward, coverage alone does not tell the whole story. Effective conservation also requires strong management, reliable information about kelp distribution, and better monitoring of the activities allowed within protected areas.
The chapter emphasizes that marine protected areas are part of the solution, rather than a standalone answer. They work best alongside other approaches, including responsible fisheries management, habitat restoration, and action to address the impacts of climate change. Improving the quality and availability of global data will also help researchers and decision-makers identify where protection is working and where additional efforts are needed.
From global assessment to conservation action
Beyond measuring the extent of protection, the report highlights the growing international momentum behind kelp forest restoration and conservation policy. Restoration projects are now underway in 15 countries, while governments and conservation organizations are developing management plans, restoration targets, and new policy approaches.
These efforts demonstrate that solutions are emerging in different parts of the world, although progress remains uneven. Continued collaboration among researchers, policymakers, Indigenous peoples, local communities, and coastal industries will be essential to ensure that conservation strategies are effective and responsive to local needs.
By assembling this information into a shared global assessment, the report provides a valuable resource for understanding the current state of kelp forests, tracking progress, and identifying priorities for future research and conservation.
A shared international achievement
The State of the World’s Kelp Forests Report 2026 demonstrates the value of international scientific collaboration in addressing environmental challenges that cross national boundaries. Bringing together research, data, and experience from around the world, the report offers a clearer picture of the challenges facing kelp forests and the opportunities to protect them. It also provides an important foundation for informing conservation decisions and encouraging coordinated action.
The contributions of Dr. Jenn Caselle and Dr. Anita Giraldo Ospina reflect the participation of UC Santa Barbara’s Marine Science Institute in this significant global effort. Through their co-authorship of Chapter 4, they have helped advance understanding of the extent and effectiveness of marine protection for kelp ecosystems worldwide.
As the report is presented to an international audience at CBD COP17 in Armenia, it serves as a reminder that conserving kelp forests is a shared global responsibility. The findings recognize the progress already achieved while identifying where stronger protection, better information, and sustained action are still needed.
Congratulations to all the scientists and contributors whose work made this report possible, including Dr. Jenn Caselle and Dr. Anita Giraldo Ospina for their contributions to this important international effort. Their work, alongside that of the wider global research community, helps strengthen the scientific foundation for protecting the world’s kelp forests and sustaining these vital ecosystems for future generations.
Explore the full report: State of the World’s Kelp Forests Report 2026