Empowering Community Action for Seagrass Conservation in Southeast Asia

This work outlines the conservation value of seagrass meadows by evidencing their role in food security, demonstrating the significant threats that seagrasses face across SE Asia and highlighting positive community action... [ view full abstract ]

This work outlines the conservation value of seagrass meadows by evidencing their role in food security, demonstrating the significant threats that seagrasses face across SE Asia and highlighting positive community action being taken to reverse their decline. We use a case study approach to demonstrate links between seagrass meadows and food security and support development of appropriate management strategies that build on stakeholder engagement leading to strategy ownership.

Seagrasses are critical components of marine systems supporting a diversity of taxa. Important fishing grounds in their own right; they also play a significant role in supporting other fisheries productivity. At different stages of their lifecycle, many economically important fish and invertebrates utilise seagrass for shelter and food. Protecting seagrasses as foundation species can protect species richness, biodiversity, ecosystem structure, fisheries support, climate regulation through carbon sequestration and other essential ecosystem services. However, seagrass meadows are declining globally at an unprecedented rate and marine conservation priorities often do not recognise the value of the goods and services provided. 

Southeast Asia is one of the world’s marine biodiversity hotspots.  However, knowledge of seagrass meadows, recognition of their social and ecological importance and effective conservation strategies are lacking. With rapid coastal development, these nearshore marine ecosystems are subject to increasing pressure from anthropogenic sources. This research is engaging local scientists, stakeholders, community groups and public administrators to evidence of the value of seagrass meadows, highlight conservation priorities for marine biodiversity protection using food security as a primer, and aiming to develop realistic management strategies.