Restore Seagrass Ecosystems
Articles/Websites
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Project Drawdown
What it is
- This article explains seagrass ecosystem restoration as a way to remove carbon from the atmosphere, describing how seagrasses take up carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and store some of it in their biomass and in sediments.
- It walks through the benefits, potential risks, cost, and feasibility of the practice, concluding that restoration is worthwhile despite a limited climate impact due to the small area suitable for restoration and varied success rates.
Teaching tips
Classroom Implementation:
- Use the article as a concise, real-world example of how scientists weigh evidence and reach a classification, and have students trace how the stated benefits and disadvantages lead to the "worthwhile" conclusion.
- Connect seagrass restoration to the broader idea of blue carbon and the role of ocean ecosystems in the carbon cycle.
- Have students evaluate the trade-offs the article names (cost, limited restorable area, ecological co-benefits) as a design-solution problem with criteria and constraints.
Extensions:
- Have students research other climate solutions using the Drawdown Explorer and compare them based on the listed criteria.
- Develop other criteria/constraints that would be useful to determine the feasibility and impact of different climate solutions.
- Use this 2-minute YouTube video to explore blue carbon in relation to the carbon cycle and climate change.
From the scientist review
This article discusses the potential of seagrass meadow restoration as a potential method to help combat climate change. The article walks through the benefits, potential risks, and feasibility of the action. References to other scientific papers and resources on the topic are provided, as well as links to a description of their methodology. The article is also a good, short, simple, example of how scientific findings are made. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
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