Seagrass protection project underway along AP coast

The Centre has initiated a project across the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha on enhancing climate resilience of India’s coastal communities by protecting and restoring India’s natural ecosystems such as mangroves and seagrasses.

Context

The Centre has initiated a project across the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha on enhancing climate resilience of India’s coastal communities by protecting and restoring India’s natural ecosystems such as mangroves and seagrasses.

About the Programme

• The project had been undertaken at a total cost of US $130.269 million (around Rs 1,000 crore) which includes a grant of US $43.419 million by Global Climate Fund (GCF) covering 24 ecosystems in these selected states.
• It aims to strengthen the climate resilience of coastal communities by protecting and restoring India's natural ecosystems such as mangroves and seagrasses.
• Under the programme, study of seagrasses along the coastlines is prominent.
  • Andhra Pradesh coast is an area of major study in the programme.

What are Seagrasses?

• Seagrasses are flowering plants that are found in our sea beds and ocean floors. 
• Distribution of Seagrasses: The major seagrass beds exist along our coastline of 
• Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay regions on the east coast,
• Gulf of Kachchh region on the west coast,
• the lagoons of islands in Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea,
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal.
• Seagrass ecosystems are recognized globally for their ability to sequester carbon, nurture fish communities and support marine mammals such as sea cows or dugongs.
• Some of the important seagrasses-
• Sea Cow Grass (Cymodocea serrulata)
• Thready Seagrass (Cymodocea rotundata)
• Needle Seagrass (Syringodium isoetifolium)
• Flat-tipped Seagrass (Halodule uninervis), etc.
• Location: These are found in muddy and sandy substrates. 
• These also occur along our coastline of Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay regions on the east coast, Gulf of Kachchh region on the west coast, the lagoons of islands in Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea and Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal. 

Significance

• They provide many ecosystem services.
• These are also called ‘the lungs of the sea’ because they release oxygen into the water through photosynthesis.
• Sequesters up to 11% of the organic carbon buried in the ocean.
• Absorb carbon from the atmosphere. They can capture carbon from the atmosphere up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests.
• Help maintain water quality.
• Filter nutrients released from land-based industries.
• Prevent soil erosion.
• Provide food as well as habitat for fishes, octopuses, shrimp, blue crabs, oysters, etc.