Seagrass Expert Talks Conservation Efforts During Awareness Month
Mapping project launches in four Western Indian Ocean coastal countries
It’s March, when many minds think of the color green. But the month is green not just because of shamrocks and leprechauns for St. Patrick’s Day; it’s also green for seagrass, because March is Seagrass Awareness Month.
Earlier this month, The Pew Charitable Trusts, along with the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) and University of Southampton, launched the Large-Scale Seagrass Mapping and Management Initiative (LaSMMI—with scientists working across Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania (including Zanzibar), and Madagascar to develop the region’s first field-verified seagrass map.
Seagrass meadows are plentiful in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), providing habitat, nursery, and feeding grounds for a variety of marine species, including dugongs, sea turtles, and commercially important fish species. These ecosystems also help stabilize shorelines, reduce erosion, and act as natural buffers against storm surges and rising sea levels. And they play an important role in climate change mitigation by capturing and storing significant amounts of carbon.
Despite all these benefits, WIO seagrass meadows have not been fully mapped.
So the LaSMMI project plans to map seagrass along the coasts of the four participating countries, covering more than 9,500 kilometers (6,000 miles) and spread across more than 2 million square kilometers (almost 800,000 square miles) of the WIO.
Damboia Cossa, the marine and coastal ecosystem program coordinator at the WIOMSA and the regional lead of the LaSMMI, holds a Ph.D. in marine sciences from Sweden’s University of Gothenburg and has more than 10 years of experience in coastal ecosystem conservation. She specializes in seagrass conservation, management, and innovative mapping tools.
This interview with her has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Why did you focus your studies on marine sciences?
I often say that my love for the sea and the joy I find in working in the marine environment were key factors in my decision to pursue marine sciences. However, when I reflect more deeply, I realize that my true passion for the field is rooted in my home country, Mozambique, which has an extensive coastline and a diverse marine ecosystem.
I clearly remember a defining moment more than 15 years ago, during one of my first fieldwork trips to a coastal area. As I observed the marine life up close, I was struck by how vulnerable these ecosystems were. That experience opened my eyes to the urgent need to work in a marine environment and to protect these invaluable resources. It was then that I truly understood the importance of marine science and how essential it is for both biodiversity and the communities that rely on marine and coastal areas.
What led you to narrow your focus of study to seagrass?
The answer is closely related to what initially drew me to marine sciences. As I began to narrow my studies, I noticed that while many researchers were focusing on other important coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and coral reefs, seagrass ecosystems were often overlooked, especially in the Western Indian Ocean region, where research was scarce.
So, motivated by this gap, I decided to get involved in fieldwork specifically focused on the seagrass meadows at Inhaca Island, southern Mozambique, home to incredibly rich seagrass meadows. During this fieldwork, I had a breakthrough moment when I realized that seagrasses are not just submerged plants; they support a vast marine life. Yet their importance is often underestimated.
I also recognized that these ecosystems are highly vulnerable to human activities, as they’re easily accessible to local communities. This experience made me realize the urgent need to study and protect seagrass ecosystems while raising awareness of their importance to the coastal communities that rely on them.
Why is seagrass important in the WIO region?
Seagrass ecosystems are recognized worldwide as important coastal ecosystems because they support high biodiversity and serve as vital nature-based solutions to climate change through coastal protection and their ability to sequester carbon. In the WIO region in particular, seagrass also plays a significant role in food security and the livelihoods of coastal communities, making their protection even more critical.
What’s the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association and what’s your role in the organization?
The Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association is a nongovernmental organization dedicated to advancing the educational, scientific, and technological development of marine science in the Western Indian Ocean region. The organization also plays a crucial role in linking science to policy, advocating for environmental sustainability and disseminating knowledge.
The WIOMSA has had a significant impact on my career, as it has on many researchers in the WIO region. I’ve been involved in many of the organization’s initiatives. Most recently, I joined the staff as the marine and coastal ecosystem program coordinator, where I coordinate the Large-Scale Seagrass Mapping and Management Initiative (LaSMMI).
Tell us more about the initiative.
The LaSMMI is a collaborative research project supported by Pew in partnership with the WIOMSA, University of Southampton, and several research institutions and partners in the WIO region. Building on the success of the Seychelles Seagrass Mapping and Carbon Assessment project, the LaSMMI aims to develop the first field-verified seagrass map for Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Madagascar, as well as to build associated research capacity in each country. The project also aims to accelerate seagrass conservation and management throughout the WIO region, working with country policy partners on policies such as the commitments governments make to reduce global emissions and the effects of climate change, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
Why take on the task of mapping seagrass in the WIO region?
Only about 20% of seagrass areas worldwide have been fully mapped, and regions including the WIO remain data-deficient. We know that seagrasses in the WIO cover an extensive area along approximately 12,000 kilometers of coastline, which are increasingly threatened by both human and natural factors. But these ecosystems are still poorly understood, despite their immense ecological and economic value. That makes mapping seagrasses in the WIO region crucial: By mapping seagrasses, we can fill this knowledge gap, inform policy decisions, and promote better management practices to ensure the conservation of these valuable ecosystems.
Once the seagrass is mapped, what will the map data be used for?
Several purposes. We’ll understand the extent and status of seagrass, which will help identify priority areas for conservation and management in the WIO region. The map will also enable governments and organizations to develop targeted strategies for protecting seagrass ecosystems—such as identifying priority areas for conservation through marine spatial planning. Additionally, the map will provide valuable information for evaluating ecosystem services and monitoring changes over time, particularly in response to climate change, coastal development, and pollution.
Is protecting the mapped seagrass in the WIO the ultimate goal?
Mapping is an essential first step, but the ultimate goal is to ensure the conservation and sustainable management of seagrass in the WIO. But that can be achieved only if we have reliable data and information. And then government institutions, academia, local communities, and NGOs all need to make the conservation of seagrass a priority because of the wide range of ecosystem services seagrass ecosystems provide.
Earlier you mentioned the nationally determined contributions, or NDCs, under the Paris Agreement, which is the international treaty adopted in 2016 designed to reduce the impact of climate change worldwide. How can mapping seagrass contribute to increasing these national climate policy ambitions?
Because seagrass plays a role in helping countries meet mitigation and adaptation objectives in the fight against climate change, this mapping initiative will serve as a critical baseline to enhance conservation and management efforts across the WIO region. The initiative will primarily support countries in integrating seagrass into their NDCs, while also informing other regional and global initiatives, such as the U.N. Decade of Ocean Science and the African Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (both 2021-2030), that aim to protect and restore ecosystems that are vital to livelihoods, biodiversity, and climate resilience.
Any final thoughts on the LaSMMI?
I view the LaSMMI as a groundbreaking project for the WIO, setting a benchmark that could serve as a model for other regions worldwide. This is a unique moment for the WIO, demonstrating a collaborative effort among four countries and many partners to produce accurate seagrass maps. This has the potential to shape the future of seagrass conservation in the region. Most exciting is that these maps will ultimately provide valuable information to inform national, regional, and international agendas, contributing to the protection and sustainable management of seagrass ecosystems.
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