Chile's vital underwater forests face threats from mining, warming seas

Seaweed, that grows on volcanic rock, are seen at the coastal edge in Easter Island, Chile January 31, 2019. Picture taken January 31, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Vega

PAPOSO, Chile (Reuters) -In the cold seas off Chile's arid northern coast an underwater forest teems with life. Towers of red and green seaweed float upwards from the sea floor, providing food for wildlife, income for locals - and oxygen and carbon capture for the planet.

For scientists, these forests hold even more potential as sustainable protein, food and other materials, though they are threatened by warming oceans and human pollution.