IKI Seagrass Ecosystem Services (SES) Project

The Seagrass Ecosystem Services (SES) Project (2019-2026) is a regional initiative coordinated under the CMS Dugong MOU and supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Government. Implemented across India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Timor-Leste, the project strengthened the evidence base, capacity, and partnerships needed to conserve and sustainably manage seagrass ecosystems.  

Globally, seagrass ecosystems remain chronically underrepresented in policy, coastal planning, and conservation investment due to limited ecological and socio-economic data, the project was designed to generate the knowledge and evidence required to understand, value, and protect these critical marine ecosystems while building long-term management and stewardship.  

 

Project Scope 

  • Geographic Reach: Six countries and more than 25+ priority focal seascapes across the Indo-Pacific region. 
  • Core Focus: Standardised seagrass mapping and monitoring; blue carbon assessment; small-scale fisheries and socio-economic assessments biodiversity conservation; and community-led stewardship. 

  • Institutional Framework: Coordinated through the Secretariat of the Dugong MOU in collaboration with national governments, research institutions, civil society organizations, and technical partners.  

     

Building a Regional Evidence Base 

Through a consortium of national and technical partners, the project delivered integrated socio-ecological assessments across diverse coastal landscapes, to improve understanding of the ecological, social, and economic importance of seagrass ecosystems. This was achieved through four core pillars:  

  1. Seagrass Extent & Condition: Established standardized baselines for seagrass extent and condition through field surveys, habitat mapping, remote sensing, and community-led monitoring across the priority focal seascapes.  
  1. Blue Carbon Geochemistry: Generated site-specific data on organic carbon stocks and carbon sequestration potential to support national climate commitments, blue carbon initiatives, and ecosystem valuation. 
  1. Fisheries & Livelihoods: Improved understanding of the contribution of seagrass ecosystems to small-scale fisheries, food security, and coastal livelihoods through ecological and socio-economic assessments.  

  1. Megafauna and Ecosystem Connectivity: Advanced knowledge of dugong distribution, habitat use, and ecological connectivity, while strengthening the evidence base for the conservation of migratory marine species.  

     

Translating Science into National Policy 

A core objective of the SES Project has been to ensure that scientific evidence informs policy development and management decision-making at local, national and regional levels. This regional evidence base supports implementation of key international and national commitments, including:  

  • Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Improved understanding by incorporating site-specific carbon storage values into national blue carbon values and climate mitigation targets under the Paris Agreement. 
  • Marine Spatial Planning (MSP): Informing local coastal zoning, protected area design, and sustainable coastal development plans. 

  • Migratory Species Conservation: Strengthening knowledge of habitats important to dugongs and other species listed under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). 

     

Project Legacy 

The SES Project has established a lasting foundation for seagrass conservation and management across the Indo-Pacific region. Beyond generating new scientific knowledge, the project has strengthened institutional capacity, fostered regional collaboration, developed standardized methodologies, and created practical tools and resources for governments, researchers, and conservation practitioners. 

Many of these resources continue to be available through the Dugong & Seagrass Hub, ensuring that project findings, lessons learned, and technical outputs remain accessible beyond the project's lifetime. They are currently being applied by the Dugong & Seagrass Conservation project, under the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Project (2025-2028). 

By combining scientific research, capacity development, and policy engagement, the SES Project has helped elevate the profile of seagrass ecosystems within climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development agendas across the region, creating a stronger foundation for future conservation action. 

All tools, datasets, and frameworks developed during the initiative remain accessible as open-access resources on the Dugong & Seagrass Hub. 

 

Learn More 

The central digital repository for project related publications, technical resources, , training materials, conservation stories, and datasets from across the region. 

Explore country-level, technical outputs, case studies, and key achievements from the six participating countries. 

 

Get in Touch 

For project enquiries, information requests, or institutional partnerships, please contact [email protected].