The International Union for Conservation of Nature marks World Seagrass Day with the announcement of 14 local projects being launched by local communities through the WIOCOR project under the Blue Nature Pillar of the Great Blue Wall Initiative
Nairobi, 1st March 2026 — The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) is pleased to mark one of the significant days on the nature calendar, World Seagrass Day. While seagrasses cover less than 1% of the planet’s surface, they are responsible for storing up to 18% of the ocean’s carbon and providing nursery functions to up to 20% of the world’s largest fisheries. In the Western Indian Ocean region, which is home to 13 reported seagrass species, IUCN has been investing in strengthening the effective governance, management and knowledge base of seagrass ecosystems as one of the key components of a ‘living blue belt’ connecting the region, under the Great Blue Wall initiative, through the Western Indian Ocean Coastal and Ocean Resilience (WIOCOR) project, funded by the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM) and the ReSea project funded by Global Affairs Canada.
IUCN ESARO is pleased to announce that with the support of FFEM through the WIOCOR project, 14 locally led seagrass conservation, restoration and regenerative blue economy projects, through organisations anchored within the seascapes in Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique and Tanzania, will be supported to conduct place-based interventions through direct regrants. The organisations are as follows
Comoros:
Bureau d’Etudes Environnementales des Comores
Wandzani Wazi Mbwedza
Agence Parcs Nationaux des Comores
Kenya:
Nature Kenya, the East Africa Natural History Society
Coastal & Marine Resource Development (COMRED)
Wasini Beach Management Unit
Madagascar:
CETAMADA
Association FAMELONA
ONG Monde Au Development Adapte (ONG MADA)
Mozambique:
APARCO
Associação Juvenil Para o Desenvolvimento Comunitário (AJUPADEC)
Tanzania:
University of Dar es Salaam School of Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries and Technology
Sustainable Ocean Alliance Tanzania (SOA TANZANIA)
Conservation of Nature for Survival (CONASU)
These grantees are established organisations working on the ground in these seascapes and beyond, and will be supported in delivering activities ranging from expansion of Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs), to developing baselines for seagrass restoration, to identifying regenerative blue economy solutions including regenerative small scale fisheries and dugong-anchored blue tourism. The cohort comprises grantees representing community-based organisations, civil society groups, and research institutions implementing locally led solutions to protect and restore seagrass ecosystems. Their projects address ecosystem degradation, climate vulnerability, and livelihood security, while strengthening community stewardship and applied science.
‘Seagrasses serve as vital lungs, underpinning the balance and resilience of marine life’ says Tantely Tianarisoa, The Interim Coastal and Ocean Resilience programme Manager
Seagrass meadows are among the most effective nature-based solutions, playing a critical role in carbon sequestration, coastal protection, fisheries productivity, and the sustainability of coastal economies. Despite their value, seagrass ecosystems continue to decline due to coastal development pressures, pollution, and climate change.
“Seagrass ecosystems are foundational to climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and coastal livelihoods across the Western Indian Ocean. Through WIOCOR, and with the valued support of the French Facility for Global Environment, we are catalysing locally led solutions that translate global commitments into measurable impact for communities and nature alike. Investing in seagrass today is an investment in a more resilient and sustainable future for our region,” said Luther Anukur, Regional Director, IUCN ESARO.
Through this grants programme, WIOCOR supports practical, scalable interventions that position seagrass as nature-based infrastructure and a foundational element of a regenerative blue economy. In the coming months, WIOCOR will continue to support the grantee cohort through national and regional dialogues, technical exchanges, and knowledge-sharing platforms to scale impact and inform policy and practice.
“Increasingly, we are becoming aware of the global significance of Africa’s ecosystems, and seagrass is no exception. As it underpins a regenerative blue economy, through its nursery functions and blue tourism contributions, investing in community leadership and applied knowledge becomes more urgent. WIOCOR is addressing this gap "said Barkha Mossae, Regenerative Blue Economy Manager
The announcement aligns with World Seagrass Day’s global call to accelerate conservation and restoration of seagrass ecosystems as part of climate mitigation, adaptation, and sustainable development efforts.
“Under the Great Blue Wall, seagrass is increasingly recognised as a strategic asset for climate action and resilient coastal development. These grants demonstrate how global partnerships and regional leadership can deliver concrete impact at local level,” said Denise Nicolau, GBW Blue Nature Pillar Lead, and ReSea Project Manager.
In addition to the Grants programme, IUCN launched the GBW Fellowship programme and is equally pleased to announce that a cohort of five GBW Fellows will be onboarded. The Fellowship will support emerging advocacy leaders working at the intersection of ocean conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable development across the Western Indian Ocean.
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