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It is often said that oceans are the “ lungs of the Earth ”. While 50 percent of all photosynthesis comes from terrestrial plants , the other half actually takes place in the oceans – thanks to phytoplankton and algae in the upper layer of the water . Moreover , the oceans sequester an immense amount of carbon dioxide , which would otherwise cause a catastrophic greenhouse effect . In fact , ocean habitats like seagrasses and mangroves can sequester carbon dioxide at rates up to four times higher than terrestrial forests can .
And yet , our oceans are being exploited and degraded like never before . We are taking out too many fish , dumping waste and plastics into the water , and forcing our oceans to absorb carbon dioxide at unprecedented levels , altering the very chemistry of seawater , with devastating consequences for marine life .
As we put together this special Blue Edition of ASIAN Geographic , our first priority had to be putting a spotlight on our besieged ocean planet . In “ 60 Days for Our Blue Planet ” ( page 28 ), we consider all the ways we are bringing awareness to the plight of marine ecosystems and the animals and plants that depend on them . On page 62 , “ Our Ocean Under Threat ” looks at some of the most significant challenges our ocean environments face and how key species are affected .
Back on planet Earth , perhaps the last country in Asia you ’ d associate with water is the hot , dry , landlocked nation of Uzbekistan , where just a few inches of rain fall in a year . Yet , as we discover in “ Uzbekistan : 50 Shades of Blue ”, on page 6 , in this Muslim majority country , it is not green , the colour most closely associated with Islam , that matters most , but blue .
Ian Bongso-Seldrup