Scientists have long known that seagrass beds , the only type of underwater flowering plant on Earth, are not only vital to the planet’s biodiversity, but also absorb carbon dioxide, making them a valuable ally in the fight against climate change that grips us more and more strongly.
However, when considering the value of seagrasses beyond carbon sequestration in the context of the UN’s sustainable development goals, a team of researchers led by Swansea University in Wales, UK, has found that In fact , seagrass conservation and restoration could contribute to achieving 16 of the 17 goals on the climate horizon.
“With the growing understanding of the planetary emergency we are facing, there is growing interest in using seagrasses as a nature-based solution for greenhouse gas mitigation,” explains Richard Unsworth, associate professor of Biosciences at Swansea University and founding director of the marine conservation charity Project Seagrass , as well as lead author of the study published in the journal Science.
“But if the ecological status of seagrasses remains compromised, their ability to contribute to nature-based solutions to the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis remains in question,” continues the researcher.
High risk of degradation
Since the sensitivity of seagrasses to environmental stress is considerable , the risk of seagrass degradation and loss persists in many regions of the world. Therefore, reflecting on the conservation of this valuable natural resource is essential to understand and safeguard its part in the fight against our planetary emergencies.
“Seagrasses are of fundamental importance to the planet, but compared to terrestrial grasses, and even seaweeds, the body of research within seagrasses is much smaller. However, there are substantial ecological, social and regulatory barriers and bottlenecks to seagrass restoration and conservation due to the scale of the interventions required,” says Unsworth.
“Only by looking beyond carbon and recognizing the true value of seagrass beds can we put it on the path to zero net loss and ultimately net gain.”
Reference: Richard KF Unsworth, Leanne C. Cullen-Unsworth, Benjamin LH Jones, Richard J. Lilley. The planetary role of seagrass conservation. Science, 2022; 377 (6606): 609 DOI: 10.1126/science.abq6923
