On March 1, the world celebrated the first-ever World Seagrass Day, marking a new initiative by the United Nations to call for more action in protecting one of the most significant marine ecosystems on the planet. Seagrasses, which are marine flowering plants found in shallow waters, cover over 300,000 square kilometres of the ocean floor. While they may not be as colorful as coral reefs or as mysterious as mangrove forests, they play a crucial role in the marine ecosystem, providing a wealth of benefits to humans and marine life.

Seagrass meadows, also known as “blue forests,” provide food and shelter to thousands of species of fish, seahorses, turtles, and other marine animals, supporting some of the world’s largest fisheries. Non-marine species, such as geese and ducks, also rely on seagrasses, grazing on them during their autumn migration. Seagrasses improve water quality by filtering, cycling, and storing nutrients and pollutants, reducing contamination in seafood. Additionally, they store up to 18% of the world’s oceanic carbon as part of the marine ecosystem, reducing wave energy and serving as the first line of defense along coasts.

However, seagrass meadows are in danger despite their importance, including in climate mitigation. According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), a football field worth of seagrass disappears every 30 minutes, with an estimated seven percent of meadows being lost worldwide each year. Key drivers of seagrass loss include ocean acidification, coastal development, and rising ocean temperatures due to climate change.

World Seagrass Day aims to raise awareness about the threats to these ecosystems and promote their conservation, critical for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Established by the UN General Assembly in May 2022, the day highlights the need to prioritize timely, ambitious, and coordinated actions that conserve, restore, and sustainably manage seagrasses.

The seagrass ecosystem is a perfect example of nature in action, where habitats and the delicate web of life are intertwined in perfect harmony. Countries must ensure that local communities, who have been living in harmony with nature for thousands of years, benefit as they work to conserve, restore, and sustainably manage seagrasses. As we celebrate World Seagrass Day, let us recognize the critical role that seagrasses play in our lives and take action to conserve them for future generations.

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