George Foulsham
Director, DHI
Mr Foulsham brings two decades of environmental expertise and extensive project management skills to his role. Within DHI, he has successfully overseen a diverse portfolio of projects that span environmental baseline studies, historical land use assessments, pollution control investigations, environmental impact assessments, construction environmental monitoring and management plans, environmental audits, and due diligence studies. His proficiency extends across various sectors, including linear infrastructure, oil and gas, heavy industry, land development, and services to commercial and government clients. Mr. Foulsham's core specialty lies in water quality and marine ecosystems, with a particular focus on conservation and restoration efforts that incorporate sustainability in construction and nature-based solutions.
Panel Discussion – Blue Carbon: Challenges and Opportunities
Blue Carbon is gaining traction in carbon credit development, shifting from the traditional focus on generating "green" credits from land-based ecosystems like forests. The "Challenges of Implementing Blue Carbon Market" panel explores barriers in expanding blue carbon projects amid rising global interest and costly accreditation processes and soil carbon oversight that hinder progress.
DHI's advanced ecosystem carbon model offers potential solutions. Their advanced carbon sequestration model, powered by MIKE Powered by DHI software, offers precise site-specific insights into carbon storage capabilities. These innovative models have the potential to transform the accreditation of blue carbon, potentially altering our approach to climate change mitigation.
A central theme of the discussion will be the often-overlooked role of coral reefs in carbon balance. Coral reefs' role in carbon balances and their interconnectedness with ecosystems like seagrass meadows will be discussed, emphasizing conservation's importance.
The challenges are substantial, with declining coral reefs and urgent greenhouse gas reduction needs. Active interventions and ecosystem preservation are essential, recognizing marine ecosystems as more than carbon storage but also contributors to biodiversity, coastal protection, and socio-economic activities. The panel seeks to illuminate these challenges and guide climate change mitigation efforts.
