By Gurpreet Singh |March 1, 2026
Seagrasses can capture carbon up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests. They are India’s secret weapon in the fight against climate change.
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Unlike seaweed (algae), seagrasses are flowering plants. They have roots, stems, leaves and even produce tiny flowers and seeds.
Image: Canva
Seagrasses are found in shallow salty waters on every continent except Antarctica. They cover an area roughly the size of Germany.
Image: Canva
They can capture carbon from the atmosphere up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests, storing it safely in the seafloor for centuries.
Image: Canva
They provide food and shelter for thousands of species, including juvenile fish, crabs and shrimp, before they head to the open ocean.
Image: Canva
Their roots stabilize the seafloor, while their leaves trap sediment and absorb excess nutrients, keeping our coastal waters crystal clear.
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Healthy meadows support 20% of the world’s biggest fisheries, providing food and livelihoods for millions of humans.
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Through photosynthesis, seagrasses pump massive amounts of oxygen into the water. A single square meter of seagrass can generate up to 10 liters of oxygen every day.
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Losing seagrass at an alarming rate which is about two football fields every hour. Pollution, coastal development and rising sea temperatures are their biggest threats.
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Green sea turtles and dugongs (sea cows) rely almost entirely on these meadows for their daily meals.
Image: Canva