The Center for Women’s Empowerment & Gender Equality (CWEGE) at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham hosted a landmark global webinar on seagrass restoration, bringing together leading experts from Australia, the United Kingdom, and India. The session served as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, innovation, and collaborative action toward safeguarding vital marine ecosystems.
The webinar featured distinguished speakers who offered diverse perspectives on advancing seagrass restoration at scale. Prof. Jennifer Verduin of Murdoch University emphasized the transition from conceptual vision to practical, large-scale implementation. Representing Project Seagrass, Dr. Leanne Cullen-Unsworth highlighted the critical interconnectedness between people, planetary health, and the future of seagrass ecosystems. Meanwhile, Dr. Shalini Mathur Raina from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham presented impactful insights on community-driven restoration initiatives in Tamil Nadu, showcasing how local engagement can drive sustainable outcomes.
A key focus of the discussion was the ecological and socio-economic importance of seagrass meadows. Experts noted that these underwater ecosystems contribute to 16 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, playing a crucial role in climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and coastal livelihoods.
The session underscored that effective restoration requires science-based site selection, robust long-term planning, and continuous monitoring. Equally important is meaningful community participation—particularly the involvement of coastal women—whose stewardship and traditional knowledge significantly enhance the success and sustainability of restoration efforts.
By presenting cutting-edge tools, global case studies, and grassroots experiences, the webinar reinforced the urgency of protecting and restoring seagrass ecosystems worldwide. The event concluded with a strong call for integrated, community-led approaches and sustained international collaboration.
Outcome: The webinar successfully strengthened global partnerships and outlined actionable pathways for inclusive, community-driven seagrass restoration, marking a significant step forward in environmental sustainability efforts.
This initiative aligns with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:
SDG 14: Life Below Water
Focuses on protecting, restoring, and sustainably using marine ecosystems, including seagrass meadows.
SDG 13: Climate Action
Seagrasses act as significant carbon sinks, contributing to climate mitigation and resilience.
SDG 5: Gender Equality
Emphasis on the role of coastal women in community-led restoration and environmental stewardship.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Supports sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities through ecosystem restoration.
SDG 15: Life on Land
Linked through biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration, including coastal and wetland interfaces.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Reflects international collaboration between institutions from Australia, the UK, and India.
SDG 4: Quality Education
Knowledge exchange, capacity building, and awareness through global webinars and research dissemination.
