Unpad Graduate School and the Center for Sustainable Tourism Studies, in collaboration with the Yayasan Konservasi Cakrawala Indonesia (YKCI), held the third Seagrass Voice webinar discussion, #NgeLamunSore-Sore, entitled “The Potential of Seagrass Resources as a Support for Ecotourism in Indonesian Islands,” on Friday, February 28, 2025.

Seagrass meadows are widespread ecosystems in Indonesia and provide numerous benefits, including fish habitat and carbon sequestration. However, the existence of seagrass meadow ecosystems remains under-recognized, and numerous pressures remain due to human activities and environmental pollution.

The Seagrass Voice webinar represents a collaborative effort by various universities and relevant stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of seagrass ecosystem conservation and serve as a platform for research dissemination. The Seagrass Voice webinar opened with remarks from Prof. Dr. med. Setiawan, dr., AIFM, Dean of the Graduate School, who highlighted the importance of collaboration as part of sustainable development and environmental conservation. The presentation was then delivered by Dr. Donny J. Prihadi, M.Sc., CPM, and followed by a discussion session led by Kevin Muhamad Lukman, S.T., M.Env., Ph.D., as moderator.

The webinar participants welcomed the discussion on the potential of seagrass ecotourism, highlighting the integration of ecotourism with other sustainability concepts, such as sustainable tourism and regenerative tourism, which can support seagrass conservation. This was followed by a discussion on potential tourism activities within the seagrass ecosystem and appropriate conservation methods.

By promoting knowledge exchange and raising awareness on the ecological and economic value of seagrass ecosystems, the Seagrass Voice webinar directly supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, it advances SDG 4 (Quality Education) by providing an inclusive platform for learning and scientific dissemination, SDG 14 (Life Below Water) through advocacy for marine ecosystem conservation, and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by exploring sustainable ecotourism opportunities. This collaborative initiative demonstrates how academic institutions, communities, and stakeholders can work together to strengthen environmental stewardship while fostering sustainable livelihoods.; Dokumentasi: https://pasca.unpad.ac.id/seagrass-voice-webinar-diskusi-potensi-ekowisata-padang-lamun/