Celebrating Seagrass All Month Long | Save the Manatee Club

Celebrating Seagrass All Month Long  Save the Manatee Club

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Apr 2, 2024 - 07:00
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Celebrating Seagrass All Month Long | Save the Manatee Club

Celebrating Seagrass All Month Long | Save the Manatee Club

Seagrass Awareness Month Celebrates the Vital Role of Seagrasses in Marine Ecosystems

By Stephanie Cohen, Public Relations Specialist

March has seen a tidal wave of enthusiasm as Seagrass Awareness Month brought individuals, organizations, and communities together to celebrate and advocate for the vital role of seagrasses in our marine ecosystems. From informative webinars to hands-on restoration projects, the month was a journey filled with education and action for manatees’ critical food source.

SMC’s Public Relations Specialist, Stephanie Cohen, attends a celebration of World Seagrass Day at Brevard Zoo to promote education on manatees and seagrass.

World Seagrass Day Celebration at Brevard Zoo

Seagrass Awareness Month kicked off with a celebration of World Seagrass Day at the Brevard Zoo on March 1. Visitors, including a plethora of school groups, were welcomed to the zoo with educational and interactive displays focused on seagrass for the special occasion. Save the Manatee Club was present with a table focusing on being Fertilizer-Free for Manatees.

SMC’s Manatee Biologist, Tiare Fridrich, hosts a webinar to provide an educational look at seagrasses.

Webinar on Seagrass and Manatees

The month also included a special public webinar on seagrass and manatees. Hosted by our Manatee Biologist, Tiare Fridrich, and Senior Science and Conservation Associate, Dr. Beth Brady, the webinar aimed to raise awareness about the ecological importance of seagrasses and the threats they face with a focus on being a critical food source for manatees. You can watch the recorded webinar at savethemanatee.org/webinar.

Building Exclusion Devices for Seagrass Restoration

The month concluded when hands got dirty, and hearts got involved, as volunteers participated in building exclusion devices for the Brevard Zoo’s Restore Our Shores seagrass restoration project. These devices aim to protect newly planted seagrass beds from overgrazing by herbivores, ultimately contributing to the recovery and expansion of these underwater ecosystems. Our team of volunteers successfully made over 50 of these devices!

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Targets Indicators

SDG 14: Life Below Water
  • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
  • Indicator 14.2.1: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches.

SDG 15: Life on Land
  • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
  • Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 14: Life Below Water and SDG 15: Life on Land.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the specific target under SDG 14 that can be identified is Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans. The specific target under SDG 15 that can be identified is Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions or implies one indicator that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. For Target 14.2 under SDG 14, the indicator is Indicator 14.2.1: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches. This indicator measures the extent to which ecosystem-based approaches are being used to manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems. The article mentions the restoration project at Brevard Zoo, which aims to protect newly planted seagrass beds from overgrazing by herbivores, contributing to the recovery and expansion of these underwater ecosystems. This restoration project can be considered an ecosystem-based approach to managing marine and coastal ecosystems.

For Target 15.1 under SDG 15, no specific indicators are mentioned or implied in the article.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators’ to present the findings from analyzing the article.

SDGs Targets Indicators

SDG 14: Life Below Water
  • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
  • Indicator 14.2.1: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches.

SDG 15: Life on Land
  • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
  • Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: savethemanatee.org

 

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