Making the invisible visible: putting a spotlight on Mediterranean seagrass
The first Greek Seagrass Forum, held in Athens in April, didn’t feel like just another conference. It felt like the beginning of a community with a powerful, shared goal: protecting Posidonia oceanica, the most important and threatened seagrass species in the Mediterranean.
What made the forum truly special was the mix of people it brought together. There were researchers; people from scientific institutions, ministries, public agencies, environmental NGOs, and civil society groups, local authorities, educators, technology and mapping experts, and those from the private sector who rely on the sea, including those connected to the yachting world. That diversity matters, because seagrass conservation is not a single-actor challenge. It sits at the intersection of science, governance, everyday coastal behavior, and the choices we make as communities and industries.
The Greek Islands Seagrass Alliance (GISA) is Seacology’s third nationwide campaign. The first two, in Sri Lanka and the Dominican Republic, focused on mangrove forests. Although very different habitats, mangroves and seagrass are primary producers and foundational ecosystems. They support food webs, protect coastlines, and store “blue carbon” — quiet climate and biodiversity solutions that are easy to overlook until they’re gone.
The forum’s tone was one of collaboration and momentum. Conversations were grounded in the Mediterranean context and in Greece’s management priorities. It created a space for civil society and community action, and opened the story of Posidonia to wider audiences through educational workshops for children and a poster exhibition.
The first Greek Seagrass forum brought together scientists, policymakers, educators, and industry leaders with the shared goal of protecting the country's threatened seagrass.
Educational workshops brought local kids into the conference through interactive classes and art projects.
The discussions ranged from funding for Posidonia protection to science, education, and practical tools for monitoring and engagement. Meanwhile, the working sessions on policy, anchoring management, and tourism pressures showed that partners are not only building awareness; they are also building pathways for implementation.
In my greeting as Seacology’s representative, I shared a simple reflection. We naturally connect with animals, the faces of conservation. Seagrass is different. Posidonia meadows are the Mediterranean’s unsung heroes,unseen beneath the sea. The project’s motto is to “make the invisible visible,” so that seagrass becomes part of our decisions, our policies, and our everyday relationship with the sea.
The Forum closed on a powerful note, with a viewing of the documentary “Ocean with David Attenborough.” With Attenborough’s 100th birthday just around the corner, it felt especially fitting.
Seacology is proud to support GISA, and proud of the partners who brought this Forum to life. If this first edition of the forum is any indication, Greece is building something durable: a community of practice and a community of care for seagrass.
Eleana Touloupaki is Seacology’s field representative for Greece.
Conference photos courtesy of Konstantinos Zilos/Cyclades Preservation Fund