Volunteers in the UK are hand-harvesting seagrass seeds from the Solent to restore meadows that have declined by over 90% in the last century. Seagrass absorbs carbon dioxide at a rate 35 times higher than the same area of tropical rainforest, making it a powerful nature-based solution for carbon removal and coastal habitat restoration. The seeds are collected during low tide, processed at the University of Portsmouth, and stored over winter before being replanted in spring. The project is led by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and relies on community volunteers. It shows how small-scale ecological restoration can contribute to carbon sequestration and biodiversity recovery in coastal zones.
