Above/Below Launch Event - Celebrating the Ocean Forests

265 Gate 5 Road,Sausalito CA 94965

17 October, 2021

Description

Join us for the launch of Above/Below, a campaign to raise awareness about the California Kelp forests and the people stewarding them. 4-6 pm Tour project artists’ work while grazing the “Intertidal Table”, prepared by Chef Maria Finn 6-7 pm Program of Speakers 7-8 pm Dessert and Kelp Talk By Invitation Only Josie Iselin, Image courtesy of the artist. About this Event Did you know that despite being less than 1 percent of the plant biomass found on land, Kelp forests can capture as much carbon as terrestrial forests? Though these magnificent underwater ecosystems are not visible to most, they form the foundation of California’s coastal marine ecology and are crucial climate regulators. Like their terrestrial counterparts, Kelp forests all around the world are disappearing, in some cases faster than rainforests. California’s North Coast has suffered a staggering loss since 2014 – by some estimates 95% of the kelp forests here have disappeared. With millions of acres of California’s terrestrial forests lost to wildfires these past few years, the need to protect and restore the kelp forests could not be more important or timely. The Above/Below project aims to make the story of the endangered kelp forests relevant and inspiring to all. We have brought together a community of scientists and artists to tell this story and raise awareness to support the work underway to protect and restore the ocean forests on the North Coast. We invite you to come learn about this urgent issue, meet and mingle with inspiring kelp enthusiasts, and find out how you can get involved. For more information and to access the story deck for Above/Below: click here > The Above/Below Project Team Scientists Rietta Hohman Tristin McHugh Kathy Ann Miller Dr. Karina Nielsen Artists Tess Felix Maria Finn Suzanne Frazier Ann Holsberry Josie Iselin Isabella Kirkland Ellen Litwiller Lina Jane Prairie Mimi Robinson ColdWater Collective Project Advisors Kristin Coates Josie Iselin Tristin McHugh Karina Nielsen Curators Marianna Leuschel Jennifer Beckman A Special Thanks to Marinship Studios for offering this lovely venue