March 2023
In 2023, the team collected sediment cores from seagrass meadows in Roche Noires, Bel Ombre, and Mont Choisy to measure how much carbon is stored in their roots, rhizomes, and sediments. The results will provide the first island-wide assessment of seagrass blue carbon, supporting climate policy, restoration planning, and sustainable coastal management.
Sediment Core Sampling for Blue Carbon Analysis
Earlier this year (2023), our team collected core sediment samples from seagrass meadows in Roche Noires, Bel Ombre, and Mont Choisy to study their role in capturing and storing carbon. These cores hold vital information about how much carbon is locked away in the roots, rhizomes, and sediments beneath the meadows – a process known as blue carbon sequestration.
The samples have now been sent to an international laboratory for detailed carbon analysis. The results will allow us to estimate the carbon storage capacity of the five seagrass species found in Mauritius and to compare how different lagoons contribute to climate mitigation.
This work will provide valuable data about the blue carbon storage potential of Mauritian seagrasses. A scientific article is already in preparation, and the findings will offer significant evidence to support national climate strategies, restoration priorities, and coastal management decisions.
Seagrass meadows may be hidden beneath the surface, but they are powerful allies in the fight against climate change – and this study will help reveal just how important they are.
