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The association A-TANYI was formed after several meetings were held with the communities, to raise the awareness on the importance of seagrass. Association members, including women, engage in protecting and managing the restored seagrass meadows.
Meetings co-lead by the University Eduardo Mondlane and partner NGOs, to brainstorm with communities on the importance of seagrass and the threats to this ecosystem
The principle of voluntarism is an important prerequisite to be part of an association
The association charter was elaborated in a consultative manner, and its representatives were elected by the community members.
The association created in fact a reference community group, that has deep local knowledge on seagrass and their related other resources
Discussions that drive thorough reflections on the issues related to seagrass but also their uniqueness, unfold the need to protect and manage this ecosystem, as well as becoming a member of the association
Several meetings were needed, to introduce and document strengths, weaknesses and opportunities to start a seagrass management agenda.
The seagrass restoration project had, at its onset, a social scientist who helped with collecting data related to perception of seagrass, with steering the discussions with NGOs, and with leading the awareness raising campaigns and formalization of initial thoughts about the need for managing the seagrass meadows.
Communication skills, including speaking local African language
Awareness raising
Ownership by the communities created through the formation of community-based organisations to engage in the different seagrass restoration activities
It is good to involve social scientists at the beginning of a seagrass restoration to work on socio-anthropological related issues
Social scientists build the bridge between ecologists and communities given their role in communication and documentation of socio-ecological issues
Their complementary actions enable to faster reach the goal of engaging communities in seagrass restoration
The rod method was the main restoration method that we implemented. It was selected given its relatively higher survival rate (around 2/3) of the restored modules of one rod of seagrasses.
The rod method is a manual sediment free method for seagrass restoration, which consists in the use of a wire stick or rod, where seagrass is tied and attached to the ground. The wire is bent and both ends are anchored in the soil, forming a so called rod. Seagrass modules (2-3 shoots united with the same rhizome) are attached to the rod. These rod structures are fully degradable after just over a year.
In Inhambane, we tested a palm leave nerve as a rod, as described as tségua method, having the disadvantage to be a highly time consuming restoration method.
Identification of wealthy donor material: A donor seagrass is an area/field of seagrass qualified to offer vegetative material for restoration. The same donor is capable to replenish itself naturally. We have been doing regular observation of these; having standard shoot density, number of leaves per shoot (=seagrass stem).
Being manual method, with a small cost and implemented in shallow areas, with no need regular swimming. Diving was not required
Trained students
Presence of communities
Having a dedicated NGO as a project partner
Some funding
The success of the ongoing restoration is due to testing different restoration methodologies, engage local communities at the earlier stage of seagrass restoration and making good choice of areas, that are not heavily impacted by gleaners or other factors.
