Trust Magazine

Seagrasses are Vital to Ocean Health

The big picture

In this Issue:

  • Summer 2020
  • The Impact of the Coronavirus
  • The Art of Science
  • Focusing on Facts
  • Planning, Preparation, and Purpose
  • Seagrasses are Vital to Ocean Health
  • A History of Progress and Results
  • Noteworthy
  • Did That Drone Just Tell Us to Stay 6 Feet Apart?
  • New Reforms for Over-the-Counter Drugs
  • 15 Facts About Oysters and the Need to Protect Them
  • Informing Public Debate
  • When Art Is a 'Necessity'
  • Will the COVID-19 Pandemic Reverse Philadelphia's Progress?
  • Return on Investment
  • 10 Points About Race and Policing in the U.S.
  • View All Other Issues
Seagrasses are Vital to Ocean Health
Velvetfish/iStockphoto/Getty Images

A seagrass meadow surrounds a tropical island along the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef off the coast of Belize in the Caribbean Sea. Seagrasses in these shallow coastal waters are vital habitats for marine life and are critical to the health of the ocean. One-fifth of the world’s largest fisheries use seagrass for nurseries. Humans, too, rely on these ecosystems for their livelihoods. Seagrasses also help communities adapt to and mitigate climate change by storing Earth-warming carbon in their soils and serving as a buffer against waves and storms. Pew is partnering with several nations to integrate coastal wetlands and coral reefs into their plans to build resilience to climate change.

Snapper school
Snapper school
Article

Belize Shows How Healthy Mangroves Can Help

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Article

Mangrove forests are some of the most important ecosystems on our planet. Mangroves protect coastlines from the full impacts of waves and storm surges, provide nursery and feeding grounds for myriad species, and help mitigate climate change by storing three to five times more carbon in their soil per acre than other tropical forests.

Getty Images
Getty Images
Article

Nature-Based Solutions Can Help Rebuild Economies After COVID-19

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Article

The world is facing unprecedented challenges in the face of the COVID-19 crisis, with millions affected by the loss of lives and livelihoods. The effects of this global pandemic, which has uprooted conventional economic activities and societal norms, are compounded by the impacts of climate change—and 2020 is on track to be the warmest year on record.

Coastal
Coastal
Article

Seagrass Protections Can Lead to Big Wins for Our Ocean, People, and Governments

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Article

In the coastal waters across much of our planet are meadows of seagrass that are critical to the health of our ocean. Seagrasses evolved millions of years ago when flowering plants on land took up residence in the sea.

A History of Progress and Results Planning, Preparation, and Purpose