BRIN: Seagrass Ecosystem Threatened by Reclamation and Pollution

In Indonesia, the blue carbon potential in seagrass meadows is estimated to reach tens to hundreds of millions of tonnes of carbon, making it a vital asset for national climate change mitigation strategies and future economic resources.

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Head of the Ecology Research Centre at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Asep Hidayat, has highlighted threats to seagrass ecosystems from coastal reclamation and environmental pollution, which have impacts ranging from greenhouse gas emissions to coastal economic disruption.

During an online discussion held in Jakarta on Monday, Asep stated that blue carbon has significant potential for carbon storage, including seagrass meadows and mangroves, which can all be found in Indonesia, although these ecosystems face considerable threats.

“In Indonesia, the blue carbon potential in seagrass meadows is estimated to reach tens to hundreds of millions of tonnes of carbon. This makes it a vital asset for national climate change mitigation strategies and future economic resources,” he said.

Additional threats include environmental pollution and environmentally unfriendly fishing practices, as well as the impacts of climate change such as rising sea surface temperatures.

In the same discussion, Senior Research Fellow at BRIN’s Public Policy Research Centre, Prof. Dr. Nurul Dhewani, noted that seagrass ecosystems provide various environmental services, such as habitats for endangered wildlife and breeding sites, as well as food sources for fish and other species, including dugongs and seahorses.

To address these concerns, threats from human activities such as reclamation, pollution, overfishing and destructive fishing methods, along with external factors including climate change, must be tackled.

She called for increased management efforts, including the establishment of seagrass conservation areas, habitat restoration, and public awareness campaigns about the crucial role of seagrass in the environment.

Previously, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) released the 2025 National Coral and Seagrass Meadow Map in late 2024. According to the map, the government has designated the national area of hard coral as 838,000 hectares and 660,000 hectares for seagrass ecosystems.