Thread by @weatherindia

In addition, the presence of #whales also promotes the growth of phytoplankton, microscopic marine creatures that contribute at least 50% of oxygen to our atmosphere by capturing about 40% of all CO2 produced: equivalent to 4 Amazon forests’ worth.

It is these facts that make #whales one of Nature’s most efficient carbon sequestration ‘technologies’, says the @IMFNews study, which estimates the collective value of the world’s great whales as “easily over $1 trillion”.

@IMFNews The numbers of #whales have plummeted in recent decades due to relentless whaling. The study says that if whales were allowed to return to their pre-whaling population of 4-5 million from 1.3 million today, it could do wonders for the environment.

📸: Rakesh Nair, TOI BCCL

@IMFNews “At a minimum, even a 1 percent increase in phytoplankton productivity thanks to whale activity would capture hundreds of millions of tons of additional CO2 a year, equivalent to the sudden appearance of 2 billion mature trees,” the study says.

📸: IMF