The incredible kelp forest is a vital component of the Cape Peninsula ecosystem, an abundance of life thriving in this coastal refuge. The only giant sea bamboo forest on the planet, this highly productive marine ecosystem is a protected nursery area, a major carbon sink, by removing large amounts of carbon dioxide from the ocean, a coastal buffer during storm surges and contributing to the ocean-generated oxygen in the air that we breathe. Kelp fosters a strong connection between the marine and terrestrial environments when it’s cast ashore, its shoreward journey being just as important in nutrient and shelter provision as its initial marine contribution. Conserving the integrity of this marine system is key in our climate change survival.