Seagrass meadows and the carbon we don't see
Underwater meadows quietly store carbon, feed turtles and dugongs, and keep coastal water clear.
2 min read
Seagrass is not seaweed. It is a flowering plant, with roots, leaves and seeds, that moved back into the sea millions of years ago. It grows in shallow, sheltered water where sunlight reaches the bottom.
Meadows trap fine particles between their blades, which keeps the water clear. Below them, roots and buried leaves build up in the sediment, holding carbon that can stay locked away for a very long time if the meadow is left undisturbed.
Green turtles graze seagrass, and many young fish shelter in it. Anchors, dredging and murky runoff are its main threats, and meadows are slow to come back once lost.
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