Cultural Value of the Seagrass Flora: A global story of diverse use over time

Traditional use of thirteen seagrass species has been verified and it is clear that in many coastal regions this flora was, and continues to be, an important resource for rural coastal residents and indigenous people. Leaves provide building, stuffing and weaving material, cordage for nets and green mulch. Seeds or rhizomes were also incorporated into medicinal tonics. Patterns of use range from contemporary and ongoing to ancient. Specialized tools were developed and elaborate weaving patterns emerged to strengthen cordage. In sum, traditional use was, and remains, rich and diverse contributing important ecosystem services for local and indigenous coastal groups. We discuss how these findings can be used to enumerate the socio-cultural value of the seagrass flora while supporting the value of Traditional Ecological Knowledge as a means to safeguard ecosystem sustainability in the coastal zone.