Restoration of Eelgrass Meadows Ecosystem

Southern Sweden is subjected to extensive coastal erosion, in part due to rising sea levels, increased maritime traffic and extreme weather due to climate change.

Location

Øresund, Sweden

As part of the EU-funded Life Coast Adapt project, WSP is advising on locations and methods for planting eelgrass. Restoring eelgrass meadows offers multiple benefits, including stabilizing the seabed, dissipating incoming waves, fostering fish/crab habitats and increasing carbon capture. This project is a prime example of how we can cooperate innovatively with nature to achieve specific environmental goals.

Planting eelgrass protects against coastal erosion and strengthens marine diversity.

WSP is assisting with planning and advising on planting locations and methods.

Eelgrass also provides ecosystem services in the form of water purification and carbon storage.

The following Future Ready® trends are being specifically addressed by this project:

Ecosystem threats: the decline of eelgrass populations has impacted marine wildlife by reducing nurseries (juvenile habitats).
Extreme weather: the increased frequency of storms and heavy rain has accelerated the rate of coastal erosion.
Coastal erosion: as sea levels rise and extreme weather events become more common, coastal erosion in southern Sweden is expected to increase.
Carbon storage: efforts to reduce overall carbon emissions must be combined with initiatives to boost carbon capture (restoring eelgrass meadows increases carbon storage).

Initial planting has been successfully carried out. Based on observed results, eelgrass meadows will then be planted on a larger scale. In time, this will lead to development of a viable eelgrass population while also relying on natural ecosystem services to provide long-lasting protection against coastal erosion.

Sustainable Development Goal 13 - Climate Action