The Indonesian Seagrass Mapping Partnership, represented by Prof. Dr. Pramaditya Wicaksono, S.Si., M.Sc., and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chris Roelfsema attended the 2024 World Seagrass Conference (WSC2024) and the 15th International Seagrass Biology Workshop (ISBW15) held in Napoli, Italy, from June 17th to June 21st, 2024.
The conference, themed “Seagrasses in the Anthropocene,” focused on the increasing human pressures on seagrass ecosystems. During the event, Prof. Dr. Pramaditya Wicaksono presented the latest updates on the Indonesian national seagrass mapping effort, emphasizing its importance for the inclusion of seagrasses in Indonesia’s second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and for ocean accounting.
We engaged in discussions with several esteemed colleagues, including Assoc. Prof. Chris Roelfsema from the University of Queensland, Dr. Lindsay Smart, Dr. Mark Spalding, Dr. Steve Schill, Dr. Johannes Krause from The Nature Conservancy, Dr. Emmet Duffy from the Smithsonian Institute, Dr. Len Mckenzie from Seagrasswatch, and Dr. Gwilym Rowlands from Oxford University. These discussions aimed at initiating a global seagrass alliance to address the challenges faced by seagrass ecosystems worldwide and accelerate global seagrass mapping.
Prof. Dr. Pramaditya Wicaksono also co-organized a workshop titled “A New Global Seagrass Map through Community-led Remote Sensing and Field Validation,” which aimed to accelerate the development of a comprehensive global seagrass map. The workshop highlighted the importance of community involvement in remote sensing and field validation to ensure accurate and up-to-date mapping.
The conference resulted in strengthened international collaboration and laid the groundwork for future projects, particularly the global seagrass mapping initiative. This effort will significantly contribute to the understanding and preservation of seagrass ecosystems.
