About Us | Kelp Forest Foundation Mission & Team

Known as one of the
fastest-growing organisms on Earth,
kelp forms underwater jungles,
brimming with life.

25%

25% of the world’s coastlines are covered by kelp. Only 0.5% of the coast is covered by coral reefs.

1000+

More than 1,000 different marine species can be found in a single kelp forest.

45 meters

Kelp is able to grow up to 60 cm a day (faster than bamboo), reaching up to 45 meters.

Ocean conservation and research receive less than 2% of global philanthropic giving - kelp forests receive even less.

The ocean regulates our climate, supports biodiversity, and sustains all life on Earth. Yet marine ecosystems are degrading faster than we can study them – driven by climate change, pollution, and overuse.

Kelp forests are among the hardest hit. Despite covering a quarter of the world’s coastlines, more than half have been lost in just 50 years.

Yet kelp remains one of the most underfunded ecosystems in conservation science – poorly understood, overlooked in policy, and absent from most climate strategies.

KFF exists to change that. By funding kelp restoration and regenerative ocean farming, we’re rebuilding these ecosystems and unlocking kelp as a scalable, nature-based solution

Vision

Mission

A world where healthy kelp forests flourish

Translating kelp’s ecosystem value into standards, tools and applications – at scale.

Strategic goals

Establish standards for Kelp in Nature Finance

Develop and advance internationally recognized standards that enable kelp ecosystems to be valued and financed through carbon markets and biodiversity credit frameworks.

Proven Kelp Ecosystem Services at Scale

Deliver robust, field-based evidence of kelp’s ecosystem services through a coordinated portfolio of demonstration projects across 4+ distinct geographic regions.

Make Kelp Globally Recognized

Position kelp forests as a globally recognized ecosystem, equivalent in visibility and importance to rainforests and coral reefs through advocacy & storytelling.

Our Impact So Far

Research projects funded

Scholarships provided for Namibian students

Global partnerships

0 +

million EUR mobilised towards kelp science, projects and advocacy

Our Values

Everything we do is grounded in rigorous science, transparent data, and collaboration across disciplines.

We champion open knowledge – making research accessible to policymakers, industry and communities alike. We act with ecological integrity, ensuring that every standard we set and every tool we build serves the health of the ocean first.