Mangroves and Seagrasses

Abstract

Mangroves and seagrass contribute to people’s quality of life, taking an important place in the Blue Economy context. Activities such as fishing contribute to the national economies of many developing nations. Carbon sequestration in these systems is considered among the most effective among ecosystem types-even including terrestrial systems-and helps mitigate climate change impacts. Nature-based tourism activities, including in mangrove and seagrass systems, add to the conservation values of these systems, engaging both stakeholders and local commu-nities and generating income through these activities. Biotechnology research and new studies continually reveal the potential of these blue systems for discovery of marine natural products that could be important for medicine, cosmetics, and other products. Despite their importance and potential, mangrove and seagrass systems are under-considered by decision-makers as vulnerable environments, faced by several threats, which has led to decreased areas of these systems. For our future and better exploration of their potential in the blue economy context, mapping Blue Carbon Ecosystems, implementation of restoration programs, and incorporating the ecosystem services they provide into financial valuation frameworks need to be urgent priorities all over the world, especially in developing countries.