; (4) assess the biophysical, social, statutory, regulatory, and economic impediments to coastal and marine blue carbon ecosystem protection and restoration; (5) study the effects of climate change and environmental and human stressors on carbon sequestration rates; (6) identify priority blue carbon ecosystems for protection; (7) develop a national strategy for foundational science necessary to study, synthesize, and evaluate the effects of climate change, environmental, and human stressors on sequestration rates and capabilities of marine blue carbon and coastal blue carbon ecosystems protection; (8) develop an assessment of current legal authorities to protect and restore blue carbon ecosystems and make recommendations for additional authorities if current authorities are determined to be insufficient