Seagrass Restoration: Tiered Guidelines for Coastal Revival

These comprehensive guidelines outline tiered best practices for seagrass restoration, from passive to active methods, based on global reviews. Tier 1: Reduce pressures (e.g., pollution, anchoring bans). Tier 2: Assist natural recovery with substrate stabilization using hessian bags or geotextiles to trap recruits, restore tidal flows, or alter top sediment/shell armoring. Tier 3: Active gardening via transplanting shoots, fragments, plugs, sods, or mats when prior tiers fail. Protocols specify donor site criteria (healthy, >50% cover), collection techniques (minimal disturbance, seasonal timing), handling (seawater storage <24h), planting densities (e.g., 10-20 shoots/m²), and anchoring methods. Emphasizes genetic diversity from multiple sources, monitoring via photoquadrats and cores. Includes case examples of geotextile success in stabilizing scars and facilitating establishment. Practical details cover tools (diving gear, frames), costs, timelines (expect 1-3 years stabilization), and integration with biodiversity goals. Supports regenerative approaches by restoring functions like fish nurseries and carbon sinks, with step-by-step flowsheets for decision-making in Western Indian Ocean contexts, adaptable globally for ecosystem resilience.