Seagrass beds located near corals.
Salt Marshes and Seagrass.
Survey and
site selection to ensure that existing environmental conditions favor Seagrass restoration ref.
Identify project goals regarding Seagrass coverage, species composition
and ecological function of restored Seagrass beds.
Seagrass beds located near corals may provide a local buffer from the
effects of ocean acidification.
This project is the first critical step to restoring coral reef and Seagrass systems in Maunalua Bay.
These may provide a short-term local
buffering effect for adjacent coral reefs because Seagrasses can reduce dissolved CO2 ref.
So you have your first line of defence, which is your Seagrass, then your coral reef, then your mangrove.
Restoration objectives, local conditions, Seagrass species,
and project budgets will determine which planting approach is most appropriate for a given site.
This is because Seagrasses take up CO2 in the water column through photosynthesis
and elevate the aragonite saturation state, potentially offsetting ocean acidification impacts at local scales.
Coastal blue carbon ecosystems(e.g., mangroves, salt marshes, and Seagrasses) play a critical role in the sequestration
and long-term storage of carbon, thus helping to reduce the impacts of climate change.
So you have your first line of defence, which is your Seagrass, then your coral reef,
then your mangrove. So, by the time you have really strong impact then you have a lot of buffer zones to break down that,” Joseph told IPS.