Enabling biodiversity credits for the protection and restoration of subtidal seagrass beds

Marine Conservation Research Group

Title: Enabling biodiversity credits for the protection and restoration of subtidal seagrass beds

Funded by: CDT SuMMeR (Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Management of UK Marine Resources); Natural Environment Research Council (NERC); UK Research and Innovation; with additional funding and support via the Ocean Conservation Trust

Dates: October 2024 – July 2028

Project partners: University of Exeter; Ocean Conservation Trust; Natural England

University of Plymouth staff: Miss Janine Douglas ; Dr Sian Rees ; Professor Martin Attrill

Seagrass ecosystems are important coastal habitats that perform many functions beneficial to society and human wellbeing. These benefits are delivered in the form of ecosystem services and include providing food through fisheries, improving water quality through filtration, regulating the climate through carbon sequestration, and as a source of recreation.

Within the UK, there have been significant losses to the scale and extent of these habitats, with some researchers suggesting over 90% declines over the last 100 years. It is, therefore, crucial to restore declining seagrass and protect existing habitats to ensure continued provision of the associated ecosystem services. To fulfil these requirements, significant sustainable finance is required to continue efforts to protect, restore, and create seagrass habitat. The emerging biodiversity credit market has been identified as a potential route for sourcing this finance.

Aims of the project

Develop methodology to enable the biodiversity credit market for the restoration and protection of subtidal seagrass beds. This will include developing metrics and indicators to effectively quantify and compare biodiversity between seagrass beds of different quality and spatial scales.
Characterise and classify a biodiversity credit in relation to subtidal seagrass beds. Furthermore, the opportunity for stacking additional nature credits, such as carbon credits and nutrient neutrality credits, will be investigated alongside, which could help ensure sufficient finance can be generated to successfully restore and protect seagrass habitats.

Marine Social Science Research Unit

We co-create and deliver robust social science research in partnership with statutory nature conservation agencies, sea users, NGOs, government departments and international organisations

Supporting the sustainable and fair use of marine ecosystems through social science research methodologies that directly inform marine environment governance at international, regional, national and local scales.

Find out more about the Marine Social Science Research Unit