Explore The Seagrass Consortium’s Restoration Approach
This section details The Seagrass Consortium’s approach to marine restoration, outlining the three elements of every project.
In order to implement large-scale seagrass restoration in support of the UN Decade On Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), The Seagrass Consortium was founded in 2022. Our focus is on accelerating and developing both the scientific and logistical methods and standards to enable seagrass restoration at scale.
An additional aim is to create unique employment for young people in deprived coastal communities to carry out restoration work, achieving a simultaneous social impact. Large-scale restoration is targeted at sites in The Netherlands and France, with restoration research also underway in the UK and Spain, inclusive of all four native European seagrass species.
Partners in the consortium include staff from Project Seagrass, University of Groningen, L’Office Français de la Biodiversité (OFB), Institute of Environmental Hydraulics of Cantabria (IHCantabria), The Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA-CSIC-UIB), GIPREB and the Sea Ranger Service.
Our Approach
Our systematic approach encompasses site assessment, restoration implementation, and monitoring to guide our approach.
Site Assessment and Stakeholder Engagement
We conduct thorough ecological and environmental analyses to identify optimal locations and conditions for successful seagrass restoration.
Restoration Implementation
Our team employs evidence-based seagrass restoration methods to replant and rehabilitate seagrass meadows effectively,
Adaptive Management
Continuous observation and data collection ensure the health and sustainability of restored seagrass ecosystems, guiding adaptive management.
Phase One: Site Assessment and Stakeholder Engagement
Local Context
We begin by evaluating local socio-ecological conditions (including the risk of current and future threats), in order to identify the optimal strategy and/or any potential locations for active seagrass restoration, enabling an informed decision for further actions.
Local People
Local people are often deeply connected to their ‘local places’ and we to work to support locally conceived restoration programmes. Our ambition is to bring additional expertise and capacity to enable restoration programmes to scale up.
Best Available Data
Whilst every system is different, our approach remains the same, We want to make decisions with based upon the best available data.
In some cases this might mean desk-based Species Distribution Modelling, in others it might involve looking into historical data. In all cases it will involve reaching out to local stakeholders who know the area better than we do.
Phase Two: Restoration Implementation
Collaboration
Our collaborative approach provides additional capacity to local seagrass restoration programmes, with our team trained in deploying proven restoration techniques.
Science
Continuous monitoring and data analysis allow us to assess restoration success and adapt strategies, ensuring long-term growth and recovery of restored seagrass ecosystems.
Logistics
Efficiency is critical in seagrass restoration programmes, and therefore a detailed plan to enable effective restoration implementation during complex field operations is essential..
Phase Three: Adaptive Management
Monitor
Regular monitoring allows us to assess restoration success, and to contextualise our results based upon seasonal and annual changes at the sites.
It also helps us to understand wider pressures on the ecosystem, and work to alleviate those pressures.
Evaluate
Data analysis and evaluations enables us to assess restoration success, to adapt our strategies and to ultimate de-risk the restoration programme.
Adapt
Informed by the data, we are able to make decisions on if, how and where to restore.
Optimising the restoration process enables us to be more efficient in the field, reduce costs and refine our approach. It also enables us to plan our restoration programmes over the long term.