On November 20, 2024, the COMBO+ Program in Mozambique, where it is a collaborative initiative between the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), and the Ministry of Land and Environment (represented by the National Directorate of Environment (DINAB))— hosted a virtual workshop to develop ecological metrics for seagrass ecosystems in Mozambique. As these ecosystems are increasingly threatened by rapid industrial development, assessing and monitoring their state is essential to ensure their conservation. This initiative aligns biodiversity conservation with economic development under the Mitigation Hierarchy and the new Ministerial Diploma No. 55/2022 of May 19.
The workshop was attended by 36 participants, including marine biologists with expertise in seagrass, environmental consultants, project managers, and other stakeholders, demonstrating the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in ecological assessment. The session provided a platform for open dialogue on refining the proposed metrics to assess seagrass conditions.
Dr. Célia Macamo, a consultant from Eduardo Mondlane University, and Manuela Amone, a PhD student at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, led the discussions, focusing on Mozambique's seagrass ecosystems and outlining a new metric system to assess and monitor their health. A ten-step approach previously developed by the COMBO+ program to standardize assessments was followed by the team, leading to the creation of a Seagrass Habitat Quality Index.
Stakeholders emphasized the importance of collaboration and transparency in ensuring the tool’s success in monitoring and conserving Mozambique’s invaluable seagrass ecosystems.
With the new tools, still under development, Mozambique is positioned to lead seagrass conservation efforts, setting an example for sustainable development and biodiversity conservation.