SEAGRASSES:
ENVIRONMENT
NEWS:
Seagrass conservation key to global biodiversity and climate targets,
studies show
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
Seagrasses, vital for carbon
sequestration, biodiversity, and coastal protection, are declining globally at
a rate of 1-2% per year due to human activities. Restoration efforts, both
globally and in India, focus on mitigating these threats through conservation
and sustainable management strategies.
About Seagrasses
- Definition and Characteristics:
Seagrasses are unique submerged, flowering plants that grow in coastal and
marine environments. They evolved from terrestrial plants millions of
years ago and have adapted to live in marine conditions. Unlike seaweed
(which is a type of algae), seagrasses have roots, stems, leaves, and even
produce flowers and seeds. They play an important role in marine
ecosystems by forming underwater meadows, providing habitat and food for
many marine species.
- Evolution and Adaptation:
Seagrasses represent a remarkable adaptation of land plants to aquatic
life. Over time, they evolved from land plants and developed specialized
structures, including roots that anchor them to the seabed, stems for structural
support, and leaves for photosynthesis. This adaptation allows them to
thrive in coastal regions, where they form dense, productive meadows that
support a variety of marine life.
Importance of Seagrass Ecosystems
- Carbon Sequestration and Climate Action:
Seagrasses are extremely efficient at storing carbon, a process known as
carbon sequestration. They can store carbon up to 35 times faster than
tropical rainforests. This makes seagrass meadows a crucial natural
solution to combat climate change by absorbing and locking away carbon
from the atmosphere. These ecosystems play an integral role in mitigating
the effects of climate change, particularly in the context of increasing
atmospheric CO2 levels.
- Biodiversity and Marine Life Protection:
Seagrass meadows provide essential habitat for a wide variety of marine
species. They are considered a nursery for juvenile fish and other marine
organisms, providing shelter and food for many species throughout their
early life stages. Seagrasses also support a diverse range of
invertebrates, such as crabs, shrimps, and mollusks, which in turn attract
predators. They are home to numerous endangered species and play a
critical role in maintaining the health and diversity of marine
ecosystems.
- Coastal Protection:
Seagrasses act as natural buffers against coastal erosion by stabilizing
the seabed and preventing the loss of sediments. Their dense root systems
help in stabilizing the coastline, reducing the impact of strong waves and
storm surges. This role is particularly important for protecting coastal
communities from the effects of extreme weather events, including
hurricanes and rising sea levels, which are becoming more frequent due to
climate change.
- Economic Values:
Seagrass meadows have immense economic value, providing benefits worth
around US $6.4 trillion annually. These ecosystems support coastal
economies by sustaining critical industries, including fisheries and
tourism. They are also important for local communities, offering resources
like fish, shellfish, and other marine life that contribute to food
security and livelihoods. Additionally, healthy seagrass meadows support
tourism, particularly eco-tourism and activities like diving and fishing.
Seagrass in India
- Geographical Distribution:
India, with a coastline of 11,098 km (as of 2023-24), hosts extensive
seagrass meadows, primarily in the regions of the Gulf of Mannar, Palk
Bay, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands, and the Gulf of
Kutch. These areas are home to rich biodiversity and are integral parts of
India's coastal ecosystems.
- Ecological Significance in India:
Seagrass meadows in India play a crucial role in enhancing coastal
resilience, protecting biodiversity, and contributing to carbon
sequestration. In addition, they support local fisheries by providing
nursery grounds for several commercially important fish species. India’s
seagrass meadows, especially in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay, also have
significant cultural and ecological value, supporting both the environment
and the livelihoods of local communities.
Threats to Seagrass Ecosystems
- Anthropogenic Activities:
Human activities, such as urbanization, pollution from industrial and
agricultural runoff, and coastal development, are among the primary
threats to seagrass meadows. Increased sedimentation, nutrient overloads
from fertilizers, and chemical pollution significantly degrade seagrass
habitats. These pollutants reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the
plants, affecting their photosynthesis and overall health.
- Weak Enforcement of Protection Laws:
Despite the recognition of seagrass meadows as critical ecosystems, laws
and regulations protecting coastal ecosystems are often poorly enforced. A
lack of proper monitoring and insufficient funding for enforcement
mechanisms make it difficult to protect seagrass habitats from illegal
activities like overfishing, unregulated boating, and unplanned coastal
development.
- Biodiversity Loss and Unregulated Practices:
Unregulated fishing practices, such as bottom trawling, damage the delicate
structures of seagrass meadows. In addition, increasing boating
activities, including anchors being dropped in seagrass beds, cause
physical damage to the ecosystems. These activities, combined with the
ongoing loss of biodiversity, reduce the resilience of seagrasses, making
them more vulnerable to environmental stressors like climate change.
Global and Indian Restoration Efforts
- Seagrass Watch:
Seagrass Watch is a global collaborative citizen science initiative that
involves volunteers, NGOs, and research organizations working together to
monitor, document, and conserve seagrass habitats worldwide. The project
focuses on raising awareness about the importance of seagrasses,
conducting research, and empowering local communities to protect these
vital ecosystems.
- Blue Carbon Initiative:
The Blue Carbon Initiative is an international project that focuses on
enhancing the role of coastal ecosystems—such as mangroves, salt marshes,
and seagrasses—in carbon sequestration. This project aims to promote the
restoration of these ecosystems and to integrate them into global climate
change mitigation strategies. The initiative underscores the importance
of seagrasses in the broader context of blue carbon ecosystems.
- Indian Conservation Initiatives:
- National Policy on Marine Fisheries (2017):
The National Policy on Marine Fisheries acknowledges the importance of
seagrass meadows alongside other vital coastal ecosystems like mangroves
and coral reefs. The policy aims to protect and manage marine resources
effectively, with a focus on sustainable fisheries and the conservation
of critical marine habitats.
- Climate Resilience Project:
In states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha, the Climate
Resilience Project, supported by the Global Climate Fund (GCF), aims to
enhance the climate resilience of coastal communities by restoring vital
ecosystems like seagrass meadows. This project seeks to increase the
adaptive capacity of coastal areas to climate change by focusing on
ecosystem-based adaptation.
- Seagrass Restoration in Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay:
Restoration efforts in these two areas of India focus on rehabilitating
degraded seagrass meadows. The aim is to restore the ecological functions
of these meadows, enhance biodiversity, and improve the livelihood of
local fishing communities. These efforts are part of India's broader
commitment to coastal ecosystem conservation.
Conclusion
- Urgency of Action:
The global decline of seagrasses due to human activities presents a
significant threat to biodiversity, climate regulation, and coastal
protection. The loss of seagrasses is accelerating, with a global decline
of 1-2% per year. Immediate action is needed to protect and restore these
ecosystems to preserve their crucial benefits for climate action,
biodiversity conservation, and coastal resilience.
- Global and Local Collaboration:
The combined efforts of global initiatives, such as Seagrass Watch and the
Blue Carbon Initiative, along with India’s national restoration projects,
provide a framework for seagrass conservation. It is critical that both
local and global stakeholders continue to work together to ensure the
survival and restoration of seagrass ecosystems, which are vital for
combating climate change, protecting biodiversity, and sustaining coastal
economies.
- Sustained Efforts for Long-Term Success:
To ensure the future of seagrass ecosystems, long-term commitments and
sustained efforts are required. These should include better enforcement of
protective laws, reduction of human-induced pressures, and continued
restoration projects aimed at rehabilitating degraded seagrass meadows.
The protection of seagrasses is not only an environmental issue but also
an economic and social one, with long-lasting impacts on communities and
ecosystems around the world.
Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/seagrass-conservation-key-to-global-biodiversity-and-climate-targets-studies-show#google_vignette