I never thought I would come to associate polar bears with tropical mangrove forests and seagrass beds. However, as we start to understand our planet as a breathing, interconnected system, the link between sea ice and carbon-sinking ecosystems becomes more clear. Polar bears depend on healthy sea ice to hunt seals, staking out holes in the ice where their preferred prey pops up to breathe. Each year, however, less and less ice returns as global temperatures soar, leaving many bears hungry. Curbing emissions is the first critical step in restoring balance to our climate, but the second, equally important phase is preserving key habitats that serve as natural carbon sinks. Mangroves, marshes, and especially seagrass beds are superheroes when it comes to absorbing carbon. Investing in their protection is our path to solving the climate crisis and preserving the future of our planet— including polar bears. Click the link in my bio to join the Tide and help my team @SeaLegacy and I #ActOnClimate! #bluecarbon #noplanetb #climatesolutions