IUCN has produced with the Spanish Institute of Oceanography and the Institute of Coastal Ecology the Seagrass Atlas of Spain. This Atlas is an important tool, which will help manage these fundamental ecosystems for marine biodiversity conservation and perform effective marine spatial planning.

The presentation of the "Atlas of seagrasses of Spain" was made at the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment. This is the first nationally published work on the distribution and ecological status of our coasts submerged forests.

This is a collective work where 84 experts from all coastal autonomous regions of Spain have participated. Additionally, several members of scientific institutions and administrations have been involved in the study, management and protection of these valuable marine habitats, for the past 40 years. The Atlas has been promoted and coordinated by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Institute of Coastal Ecology (IEL), with the financial support of the Biodiversity Foundation and the MAVA Foundation.

"The Spanish forests do not end on the coast but continue under the sea almost 40 meters deep," said Juan Manuel Ruiz, IEO scientist. "Human activities have reduced the extent of these marine forests jeopardizing the marine ecosystem and the resources provided to us," said the scientist.

"Seagrass meadows are important coastal ecosystems and are good indicators of the health of our beaches," said Antonio Troya, director of IUCN- Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation. "This Atlas will help marine spatial planning which will allow the preservation of these essential habitats for the Spanish coast," added Troya.

Angiosperms (flowering plants) are marine submerged plants, that occupy large tracts of our seabed, they are also called "seagrass". Priority conservation of these habitats are included in national and European environmental regulations. Their preservation is essential for the functioning of our marine ecosystems and they harbor enormous biodiversity. They offer important ecosystem services such as: they contribute to good water quality for tourism and aquaculture related activities, the existence of beaches, fishing, diving, etc. They have therefore an enormous socioeconomic and cultural value, in addition to their exceptional ecological value.

The Atlas of seagrasses of Spain collects all the useful information available on the range of the five species of marine angiosperms we have in Spain: Posidonia, Cymodocea nodosa, Zostera noltii, eelgrass and Halophila decipiens. According to the information collected, there is a total of 1618.69 km2 of seabed occupied by these grasslands in Spain. The Posidonia oceanica, endemic to the Mediterranean, are the most abundant and are known as "Algares".

The Atlas aims to become a useful tool to facilitate the work and efforts of scientists, technicians, governments and NGOs in the management and conservation of seagrass. The work has identified the problems and threats to seagrass from our shores and therefore determine the actions and policies needed for their future preservation.

For more information: Mar Otero