Fiji committed to seagrass protection

World Seagrass Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly on May 2022 and is commemorated annually on March 1.

Seagrass plays a critical role in our marine ecosystems, offering over twenty ecosystem services, including breeding grounds for fish, water filtration, and serving as significant carbon sinks. Its ability to store carbon twice as terrestrial forests (per hectare) underscores its importance in climate change mitigation.

To raise awareness about the significance of seagrass, the UN General Assembly declared March 1st as World Seagrass Day in 2022. The call for action highlights the need to protect seagrasses in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A global study shows a seven per cent annual decline in seagrass ecosystems, marking them as one of the world’s most threatened habitats.

“Biodiversity loss is not just an environmental issue; it is a direct threat to our well-being and the stability of our planet. The degradation of ecosystems diminishes the resources we rely on for food, water, and livelihoods,” said Mosese Bulitavu, Minister for the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.

“The conservation of seagrass ecosystems is not just about protecting biodiversity; it is about protecting the very foundation of our climate resilience and the resources on which our people depend on,” added Bulitavu.

Fiji’s commitment to preserving seagrass ecosystems aligns with its obligations under the Ramsar Convention, UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement. At the recent CBD COP16.2 meeting, Fiji reaffirmed the importance of blue carbon ecosystems like seagrasses in combating climate change.

“The Ministry, in collaboration with technical programs such as the Management and Conservation of Blue Carbon Ecosystems (MACBLUE) project, is helping Fiji ensure seagrass protection through improved policies and biodiversity assessments. This is part of a broader regional effort to protect blue carbon ecosystems,” Bulitavu stated.

“As we continue to strengthen our national and regional efforts to protect blue carbon ecosystems, Fiji remains at the forefront of advancing policies that will safeguard our coastal ecosystems.”

The initiative aims to strengthen Fiji’s conservation strategies and contribute to national greenhouse gas inventories, as well as international climate commitments. A recent study from selected costal sites in Fiji have acknowledged and confirmed that seagrass habitats in these areas can be carbon sinks. Fiji is home to six of the 72 seagrass species found globally.

This story was originally published at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change on 01 March 2025, reposted via PACNEWS.