3 Lessons from Indonesia’s Seagrass Carbon Story

Did you know Indonesia’s underwater seagrass meadows can store more carbon than tropical rainforests? A new study from Pari Island shows how dredging and restoration are reshaping the nation’s “blue carbon” future.

1. Healthy seagrass = carbon gold

Persistent seagrass meadows around Pari Island hold up to 234 metric tons of carbon per hectare, far higher than the Southeast Asian average. That’s a natural climate solution sitting right off Jakarta’s coast.

2. Dredging sets back decades of storage

Tourism-driven dredging at Pantai Pasir Perawan stripped away meadows and sediments, leaving 17% less organic carbon in the soil than in intact meadows. Once lost, these carbon “banks” are incredibly slow to refill.

3. Restoration is promising—but slow

Indonesia has invested in seagrass transplanting since 2009. The meadows expanded, but after 13 years the sediments still don’t show higher carbon stocks compared to bare sand. Recovery could take decades, meaning protecting existing meadows is the smartest climate investment.

Seagrass isn’t just a quiet plant under the waves. For Indonesia, it’s a frontline defense against climate change, a source of community livelihood, and a storehouse of hidden carbon. The takeaway? It’s cheaper and faster to protect what we have than to rebuild what we lose.

👉 Which of these takeaways surprised you most? Share this post and let’s talk blue carbon!