Indonesia’s “Forgotten” Seagrass Meadows Need Urgent Protection

Marine scientists are sounding the alarm about Indonesia’s disappearing seagrass meadows, calling them a “forgotten ecosystem” that plays a vital role in fighting climate change and supporting coastal communities. At a recent symposium in Bali, researchers and conservation experts highlighted how these underwater grasslands are being overlooked despite their critical importance to marine biodiversity and carbon storage.

“We barely pay attention to it, even though its ecological, biological and ecosystem service roles are strategically important,” said Victor Nikijuluw, a senior ocean program adviser at Konservasi Indonesia, which hosted the October gathering. He noted that seagrass meadows are often the first ecosystems sacrificed to development, with many people unaware they even exist.

Unlike seaweed, seagrasses are flowering plants that grow in shallow coastal waters, creating underwater meadows that serve as nurseries for juvenile fish and shelter for marine creatures like crabs, prawns, and sea cucumbers. These meadows also provide habitat for endangered dugongs. Working alongside mangroves and coral reefs, seagrass beds help capture carbon from the atmosphere, filter polluted runoff from land, and protect shorelines from erosion.

The symposium participants identified key obstacles to better seagrass protection: insufficient scientific data, weak government capacity, and limited public awareness. They’re calling for stronger collaboration between researchers and policymakers to develop evidence-based conservation strategies. With over 70 seagrass species covering approximately 600,000 square kilometers of ocean floor worldwide, protecting these “forgotten” ecosystems could be crucial for Indonesia’s environmental and climate goals.