COMPONENT 1
Component 1: Research and Monitoring
1.1.1. Enhance assessment of baseline information on seagrass from deeper waters and other unstudied areas
Background – A conservative estimate is that 90% of the knowledge the region has on its seagrasses –their taxonomy, structure and dynamics- comes almost solely from plants at the upper 3 meters of the coastal waters of the South China Sea and surrounding seas. But sporadic collections and dives at depths greater than 5 meters (or dredge materials from oceanographic cruises) have shown that seagrass communities still thrive at these and at greater depths. In addition, the five member countries have so far subjected only 28 sites to intensive study, leaving a substantial number of sites with seagrass practically untouched. More recently, using Landsat Thematic Mapper Multispectral data (Landsat TM, 30 m higher resolution) acquired in January 2005, the Philippine Component has identified 529 major seagrass sites along the South China Sea coast, i.e. sites with at least 1 sq km of seagrass, were identified.
There is a need to enhance the assessment and monitoring of the seagrass communities at waters below 5 m depths and at both shallow and deeper waters in areas so far unstudied (e.g. adjacent study sites). The results of these studies will augment existing knowledge and provide us with a true baseline for detecting and monitoring changes resulting from intensified natural events and man-induced disturbances. They will be a contribution to our knowledge of our seagrass resources, solidifying their roles in the carbon budget of the South China Sea, coastal and marine biodiversity, and in the improvement of the quality of lives of people.
Approach –The sites for assessment and monitoring at depths will be selected based on previous knowledge and set criteria arrived at the national level. The main objective is to know what species of seagrasses exist, how they are distributed (temporally and spatially), and what environmental factors affect their distribution. Where regional cooperative venture is considered, this will in consultation with the other participating countries. SCUBA will be the normal gear used. At the shallow unstudied sites, selection will be at the discretion of the country focal points, but the use of high resolution remotely sensed data from the project is highly recommended. Once the sites have been selected, the SeagrassNet and/or SeagrassWatch protocols for assessment and monitoring (see below) may be used.
Indicative budget – US$ 55,000
1.1.2. Adopt and implement a regional seagrass resource assessment and monitoring protocol (e.g. SeagrassNet and SeagrassWatch)
Background – The SeagrassNet and/or SeagrassWatch protocols will be adopted and implemented at identified study sites. These are sites where more detailed information about the resources, environmental parameters and degree of perturbation will be gathered. SeagrassNet (
www.SeagrassNet.org) is a scientific global monitoring program to investigate and document both the status of seagrass resources worldwide and the threats to this marine ecosystem. The program started in 2001 in the Western Pacific and now includes 28 sites in 15 countries; a globally applicable monitoring protocol and web-based data reporting system have been established. SeagrassWatch is the largest scientific, community-based non-destructive, seagrass assessment and monitoring program in the world being implemented at present in 165 sites all over the world (
http://www.seagrasswatch.org).
Approach – Utilizing the expertise of the developers of the protocols themselves, initial workshops and hands-on exercises will be conducted prior the actual assessment and monitoring activities. SeagrassNet teams are mainly composed of scientists from participating countries, while those of SeagrassWatch are largely non-scientists. Both teams conduct synchronous and repeated sampling of selected plant parameters (density, cover, height, and associated fauna) and environmental forcing factors ((water temperature, light, salinity, and sediment) to determine seagrass status and trends. They collect information with the goal of elevating interest and awareness in seagrasses and providing a “global report card” on the health of the valuable seagrass habitat. An assessment and monitoring kit is available to all participating countries.
Indicative Budget – US$35,000
1.4.1. Assemble information and data relating to seagrass habitats into a regional seagrass database
Background – Since the late 1980’s, coastal scientists and students have been collecting specimens of seagrasses and other flora and fauna associated with them. These materials and information, however, are not systematically catalogued. In a few institutions where these materials are inventoried, the institutions are ill equipped to maintain the collections for lack of funds for personnel. An urgent need is felt to systematically catalogue all existing seagrass specimens and seagrass habitat information available from scientific and research institutions in the region.
The Marine Science Institute CS of the University of the Philippines (UPMSI) has been designated by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) to be the repository of marine plants of Southeast and East Asia. It has sizable collections of seaweeds and seagrasses, accumulated from collections and materials used in training courses involving the same scientists as in the UNEP/GEF SCS Project. The advantage of having such a systematic regional Marine Plant Repository is obvious: the region would have a database of specimens and information on seagrass resources, useful for instructions, for public awareness, and as natural resource materials for posterity.
Approach – Initially through the e-forum of the UNEP/GEF SCS Project and the Seagrass Information Network for East Asia (SINEA), the UPMSI will initiate contacts with academic and research institutions in the region dealing with seagrasses. Among others the information to be sent out will include: what seagrasses are available, where these are available, where collected, when and who collected them, other information on the habitat, proprietary rights, etc. Specimen and information exchange will be encouraged among the members of the network. Contributing partners will be provided duplicates of all the materials and information. Initially, access will be facilitated electronically.
To sustain this initiative, the specimens and information will be a regular instruction and training aids at the training courses of the project and related activities at the institutions concerned. Two full-time personnel (curator and an assistant) will be hired to maintain the collections. Other sources of support will be tapped.
Indicative Budget – US$42,000
1.4.2 Expand and up-date the regional seagrass meta-database
Background – As reported by the PCU, there are currently in excess of one hundred institutions directly involved in the seagrass component of the project. It is anticipated that this network will continue to grow, with a wide range of outputs, as the demonstration sites and pilot activities become fully operational. At present, the South China Sea Meta-Database contained more than 1,000 metadata entries, but the quality of some of the entries is in question. In addition, there is a need to expand and update it in view of the expected growth in the network. As agreed upon at the RWG-SG-7, there is a need to critically evaluate the meta-data quality and agreed to revise and add new meta-data to the online meta-database by the end of September 2006.
It should be emphasized that there are metadata entries on seagrass, which are available from institutions in the region. These are largely the outcome of collaborative projects the same member countries had in the past 10 or 15 years. The problem is the absence of dedicated personnel to take care of the proper entry, due in large measure to shifts in responsibilities in the concerned institutions or agencies.
Approach – Working on the existing metadata on seagrass, and utilizing the website of the project, the data will be improved in quality and at the same time more data entries will be inputted into the structure. The procedures for these activities are well laid out in the materials (e.g. CD) distributed by the PCU.
Indicative Budget - This is an approved activity of the project with initial funding for its completion. Hence, this will incur no other costs.
Component 5: Resource and Habitat Management
5.3.1 Undertake a regional synthesis of and pilot appropriate techniques for rehabilitating seagrass
Background - While the science and technology for seagrass rehabilitation is well established in the more developed countries (e.g. USA, Australia, and Japan), these are virtually unheard of in the Seas of East Asia. Earlier attempts have been made to rehabilitate degraded coastal areas through use of artificial seagrasses (see Fortes 1995), but this initiative was discontinued simply because of its ‘impracticality’, e.g. why embark on using artificial seagrass for rehabilitation when there are so many naturally growing seagrasses in the region? In addition, the usefulness of the ‘technology’ is not yet unequivocally confirmed in this part of the world.
On the other hand, there are areas, which have been degraded especially my human’s modification of coasts, e.g. mine tailings area, coastal areas left derelict by tourism establishments or fishpond construction. Although an isolated case, the copper mine tailings area in Marinduque Bay, Philippines, some of the coastal ecosystem components (e.g. seagrasses, fish, invertebrates, seaweeds, organic sediments, clearer water) were successfully ‘restored’ using artificial seagrasses and artificial reefs. There is thus a potential for seagrass rehabilitation through use of transplants and artificial seagrasses. It should be emphasized, however, that this has to be well discussed with experts before its implementation.
A number of techniques are available for use in seagrass rehabilitation, e.g. use of sprigs, seeds, young shoots. So far, depending on the succession stage of the communities, seeds have shown the greatest promise. Considering the extent of degradation of Southeast Asian coasts, it is worthwhile considering the use of this ‘technology’ to improve the conditions. The initial step towards this direction is a regional synthesis of the information. In some parts especially of the Seagrass Demonstration Sites, which may need rehabilitation, the technique could be piloted.
Approach – A part of the seagrass metadata and other existing sources, information on seagrass rehabilitation will be culled out, synthesized, and critically analyzed for possible application. The preferred pilot sites would be portions of the established demonstration sites, if these exist. Otherwise, any other sites, which meet, agreed criteria could be useful. For sustainability, this portion of the project should be made an integral part of community activities along coasts (much like mangrove transplantation), training courses, or their ‘successes’ disseminated for use by concerned industries (e.g. tourism, mining). Hence, an intensive awareness and promotional activity should precede its implementation.
Indicative Budget - US$65,000
5.7.1. Synthesis of ‘successes’ in alternative or complementary livelihood programmes using seagrass resources
Background - Compared to coral reefs and mangroves, seagrasses have very few ‘successes’ in terms of their use as alternative or complementary sources of income. This is because the usefulness of seagrasses resides mostly in their ecological roles, not much in their economic roles. But information both inside and outside the region is accumulating pointing the high potential of seagrasses as viable sources of additional income for fishermen and coastal entrepreneurs e.g. seeds and leaves of some species are edible as salad, leaves of the bigger species as materials in the manufacture of handbags, mats, seagrasses as tourist attractions, etc. While still at the experimental stage, the initiative made at the UPMSI has demonstrated that flour from the seeds of Enhalus acoroides could be used in baking cookies, not to mention the potential pharmaceutical or industrial use of some chemical compounds found in some seagrass species (e.g. phenols). The highly sought after Omega-3 is found in some organisms associated closely with seagrasses.
Approach – An intensive search for the use of seagrass and its associated resources will be made, initially utilizing existing project network. This will be expanded to include other sources (e.g. Seagrass Forum) inside and outside the region. The information gathered will be validated, documented and synthesized. The result will be compared to existing related information on mangroves and coral reef resources for integration purposes. Information on income derived, duration of seagrass-related livelihood activities, manpower requirement, etc. will likewise be gathered.
The information gathered will be used in training courses and academic instructions especially at local institutions. Coordination with SINEA, intensive use of the project website and e-forum will greatly facilitate the acquisition of the needed information. The active role of the local communities will be indispensable in the completion of this activity.
Indicative Budget - US$22,000
5.8.1. Promote transboundary management and zoning of seagrass for conservation of marine endangered species (e.g. sea turtles and dugongs)
Background – More than 500 MPAs or similar areas for protection exist in the region. Unfortunately, not a single area has been reserved solely for seagrass protection. This is the primary reason why the Seagrass Component of the project targets the establishment of Seagrass Marine Protected Areas.
Much less initiative exists regarding transboundary management and zoning of seagrass for the conservation of marine endangered species dependent upon the habitats (e.g. dugong and sea turtles). Although transboundary management of the migration route of sea turtles exists between Malaysia and the Philippines, the seagrass areas within the management jurisdiction are not well defined. There is a need to delineate these areas and zone them for jurisdictional purposes. This initiative will be useful in a regional understanding of the behaviour of these endangered species, at the same time, building ‘confidence’ among governments in areas where this is needed to effect cooperation.
Approach - In close collaboration with organizations and agencies working on these animals, (e.g. UNEP, WWF, IUCN, CI, national conservation institutions) this part of the project will intensify the promotion of the concept through workshops and on-site activities, especially in Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Indicative Budget - US$55,000
