Scientists call for protection and restoration of Africa's seagrass meadows

by Wiida Fourie-Basson, Stellenbosch University

edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Andrew Zinin

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Add as preferred source An underwater meadow of the seagrass Zostera capensis in South Africa. Seagrasses provide important habitats for many coastal species and many benefits for human societies. Credit: Sophie von der Heyden A team of African researchers has published the first comprehensive review of seagrass restoration activities across Africa's coastline.

Seagrasses are flowering plants that grow in shallow coastal waters, where their bright green leaves form underwater meadows. Along the African coastline, seagrass meadows have supported human societies for millennia, offering food, medicine, raw materials, and cultural and spiritual meaning.

Yet these ecosystems are among the most poorly understood ocean habitats in terms of their global distribution and status.