Underwater kelp forests are among the most productive places on Earth. The forests support a range of marine life, and they are one of the most biodiverse places on our planet. Here you’ll find squid nurseries, crabs, seals, whales, and sea otters. Kelps are not plants; they are algae. Some species form large underwater forests that are referred to as the rain forests of the ocean since they are so biodiverse and brimming with life. Kelp thrive in cold water with lots of waves. The currents and waves bring nutrients that the kelp need to survive. Kelp is fast-growing- up to 60 cm per day.
Kelp forests play an important role in maintaining ecological balance and naturally combating changes in climate. The seaweed forests help with storing carbon by taking up inorganic carbon, including carbon dioxide, and converting it into organic biomass. Organic material that is stored in the deeper ocean is unlikely to be disturbed for thousands of years. Kelp and other types of marine vegetation can absorb 20 times more carbon dioxide per acre than forests on land. Kelp can also reduce the force of storm-driven tides and surges.
Blue carbon refers to the role that seagrasses and mangroves can play in carbon sequestration – the process where carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and held in either solid or liquid form
Sea otters play a crucial role in keeping the kelp forest healthy. When sea otters are lost from an ecosystem, the number of sea urchins spikes. The urchins chew through the holdfast at the base of the kelp, and the rest of the kelp washes away. Amazingly, even after sea urchins have slashed through kelp beds, they lie dormant waiting for new kelp sprouts. Thus, it is very difficult to reestablish a kelp forest when there has been an outbreak of kelp-eating sea urchins.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is biomimicry?
Biomimicry is the practice of looking to nature for solutions, then applying what we learn to design and problem-solving. Instead of inventing from scratch, it means studying how plants, animals, and ecosystems have already solved a challenge — like staying cool, collecting water, or absorbing carbon — and adapting that strategy for human use.
How does biomimicry help address climate change?
Nature has been adapting to extreme conditions for billions of years, so many organisms already hold working solutions to problems we now face at a larger scale — cooling buildings without electricity (termite mounds), collecting water in drought (the Namib beetle), protecting coastlines from storms (mangrove roots), and capturing carbon (corals, forests, kelp). Biomimicry means studying those solutions and applying the same principles to human design.
How can children get involved in biomimicry?
Children don’t need special training to think like a biomimicrist — just curiosity and a habit of asking “how does nature solve this?” Simple ways to start include a backyard scavenger hunt for nature’s patterns, a “design-an-animal” challenge for a changing climate, or building a small model (like a passive-cooling structure or a water collector) inspired by something they’ve observed outdoors.
Is biomimicry only for scientists and engineers?
No — biomimicry is as much a mindset as a profession. Anyone can practice it by observing nature closely and asking design questions. Professional biomimicry practitioners apply it in architecture, materials science, and engineering, but the same core skill — careful observation followed by “what if we built it that way?” — is exactly what this post’s classroom and family activities are designed to build in children.
Åsa Jomård
In 2015, Åsa completed a course in Biomimicry: A Sustainable Design Methodology at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. With over 10 years of experience exploring nature for inspiration and as a former member of Ben, Biomimicry Education Network, she brings both academic background and creative teaching experience to her work. Her materials seamlessly integrate stories, nature observations, and design challenges, making them perfect for inquiry-led learning in early primary contexts.
AI was used as a Thinking Partner.