Remote Sensing of Seagrass Ecosystem Services for Nature-Based Climate Solutions

Seagrass meadows are among the most productive coastal ecosystems on Earth, yet they are experiencing widespread decline due to anthropogenic pressures and climate-driven stressors. At the same time, seagrasses are increasingly recognised for their disproportionate contribution to ecosystem services such as blue carbon storage, habitat provision, and coastal protection. Traditional field-based monitoring alone is often insufficient to capture the spatial complexity and temporal dynamics of these systems. Remote sensing and spatial modelling approaches have therefore become essential tools for assessing seagrass distribution, condition, and associated ecosystem functions. However, challenges remain in linking remotely sensed indicators to ecosystem service delivery and management outcomes, highlighting the need for integrated, interdisciplinary research.The goal of this Research Topic is to synthesize and advance current knowledge on how seagrass ecosystem services can be assessed, monitored, and applied as nature-based solutions under changing environmental conditions. Specifically, the collection seeks to bridge ecological understanding with remote sensing, spatial analysis, and management-oriented applications. By integrating cutting-edge observational tools with ecosystem service frameworks, this Research Topic aims to support scalable and transferable approaches for informing conservation, restoration, and climate policy. Contributions will help identify knowledge gaps, methodological challenges, and best practices, ultimately strengthening the role of seagrass ecosystems in coastal resilience, climate mitigation, and sustainable development.This Research Topic welcomes original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and methodological papers addressing seagrass ecosystem services and nature-based solutions using remote sensing and spatial approaches. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:• Mapping and monitoring seagrass extent, condition, and productivity; • Remote sensing of blue carbon stocks and carbon dynamics; • Linking spatial indicators to ecosystem service valuation; • Seagrass restoration planning and habitat suitability modelling• Integration of remote sensing with field observations and socio-ecological data; • Applications for coastal management, climate adaptation, and mitigation. • Uncertainty quantification and validation• Advances in coastal and benthic remote sensing• Multi-temporal analyses of seagrass dynamics• Multi-sensor and multi-scale data integration• Scaling and transferability of seagrass indicatorsStudies from all geographic regions and across spatial scales are encouraged. Topic editors: Mariana Lima, Bijeesh Kozhikkodan Veettil Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77035/remote-sensing-of-seagrass-ecosystem-services-for-nature-based-climate-solutions