MARE participates in meeting with the Secretary of State for the Environment dedicated to the conservation of seagrass beds

MARE participated in a meeting promoted by the Secretary of State for the Environment, João Manuel Esteves, dedicated to strengthening cooperation between scientific, environmental, and maritime entities for the conservation and restoration of marine ecosystems in Portugal. 

The meeting was attended by Ricardo Melo, researcher and director of MARE-ULisboa, and João Neto, researcher and director of MARE-UCoimbra, who represented the center and contributed with the scientific perspective accumulated over more than a decade of research on coastal marine habitats.

During the meeting, seagrass beds were at the center of the discussion. These ecosystems play a key role in maintaining biodiversity, water quality, carbon sequestration, and coastal protection, and are considered a priority in national and European conservation strategies.

MARE reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the development of science-based public policies, promoting the knowledge, monitoring, and recovery solutions necessary to ensure the resilience of Portuguese marine ecosystems.

This initiative reinforces the importance of ongoing collaboration between the scientific community and government entities for the protection of the ocean, which is one of the pillars of MARE's mission.

Photos by Ministério do Ambiente e Energia