Potier, Beth

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University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryMedia Relations Administrative Offices12-19-2007Major Gift Launches Visibility, Global MonitoringOf SeagrassBeth PotierUNH Media RelationsFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/newsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Administrative Offices at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Media Relations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For moreinformation, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationPotier, Beth, "Major Gift Launches Visibility, Global Monitoring Of Seagrass" (2007). UNH Today. 851.https://scholars.unh.edu/news/8519/13/17, 11(53 AMMajor Gift Launches Visibility, Global Monitoring Of SeagrassPage 1 of 2http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/cj_nr/2007/dec/bp19seagrass.cfm.html Major Gift Launches Visibility, Global Monitoring OfSeagrassContact:  Beth Potier 603-862-1566UNH Media RelationsDecember 19, 2007DURHAM, N.H. – Thanks to international efforts centered at the University of New Hampshire,“Save the Seagrass” might be the next rage in conservation-minded T-shirts and bumperstickers.SeagrassNet, a global monitoring program founded and directed by UNH research professorFred Short, aims to provide a global assessment of coastal marine seagrasses while increasinggovernment and public awareness of the importance of seagrass habitat.Now a multi-million dollar gift from the Otto Fund of the New Hampshire CharitableFoundation is forging an innovative partnership between SeagrassNet and ConservationInternational, expanding SeagrassNet’s worldwide reach as well as funding a series ofworkshops globally, to evaluate seagrasses for possible “red listing” as threatened orendangered.“The university greatly appreciates the support for SeagrassNet by the Otto Fund of the NewHampshire Charitable Foundation,” said UNH President Mark Huddleston, “and we share Dr.Short’s enthusiasm for this expansion of his global seagrass initiative.”“Seagrasses are a barometer of the health of the coastal system,” said Short. “Althoughthey’re mostly submerged, they require light. And most things we do to the ocean decreasethe amount of light that reaches them. Seagrasses are an indicator of how things are doing inthe coastal zone.”Among the most productive plant communities on the planet, seagrass beds serve asprotective nurseries for juvenile fish and shellfish, a habitat for many marine species, and afeeding ground for predatory fish, waterfowl and large sea creatures like manatees and seaturtles. The root and rhizome system of these flowering plants stabilizes sediments, protectingthe coastline from currents and weather-related erosion. Seagrass is an effective filter ofnutrients and particulates, and it is the basis of a detrital food chain that feeds fish andshellfish.Providing tools and training to local teams at 70 monitoring sites in 23 countries, SeagrassNethas evaluated two-thirds of the global species of seagrass and compiled a global report cardreflecting the health of seagrass worldwide. With SeagrassNet and other data, seagrasses arenow being considered for red-listing by the Global Marine Species Assessment, a jointinitiative of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources(IUCN) and Conservation International.9/13/17, 11(53 AMMajor Gift Launches Visibility, Global Monitoring Of SeagrassPage 2 of 2http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/cj_nr/2007/dec/bp19seagrass.cfm.htmlShort hopes that the SeagrassNet program will bring to seagrasses the attention that whales,manatees, or even coral reefs have enjoyed. “Lack of visibility has been a real problem forseagrass,” said Short. “Yet seagrasses are equally or maybe more important and more widelydistributed than coral reefs.”The gift has been crucial to expanding SeagrassNet’s global reach. “When you start workingglobally, there is no federal funding available, only private,” said Short. “The beauty of this giftis that there are no geographic restrictions.” Indeed, the gift has allowed SeagrassNet toexpand its work into the Indian Ocean, Africa, and the Middle East.Short also credits the partnership between The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and theOtto Fund with bringing SeagrassNet and Conservation International together in what hasbecome a fruitful collaboration. “That’s an impressive thing for a benefactor to do,” said Short.For more information on SeagrassNet global monitoring, go to www.SeagrassNet.org.The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation has been improving the quality of life in ourcommunities since 1962. It builds and manages a collection of charitable funds, totaling morethan $400 million, created by individuals, families and corporations. In 2006, the Foundationawarded $30 million in grants and scholarships. For more information, visit www.nhcf.org.Conservation International is a non-profit organization whose mission is to conserve theEarth’s living heritage -- our global biodiversity -- and to demonstrate that human societiesare able to live harmoniously with nature. CI applies innovative science, economics and policyand develops partnerships with like-minded institutions and local and national governments.For more information, go to www.conservation.org.

Major Gift Launches Visibility, Global Monitoring Of Seagrass

University of New Hampshire

University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository
Media Relations Administrative Offices
12-19-2007
Major Gift Launches Visibility, Global Monitoring
Of Seagrass
Beth Potier
UNH Media Relations
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/news
This News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Administrative Offices at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has
been accepted for inclusion in Media Relations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more
information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.
Recommended Citation
Potier, Beth, "Major Gift Launches Visibility, Global Monitoring Of Seagrass" (2007). UNH Today. 851.
https://scholars.unh.edu/news/851
9/13/17, 11(53 AMMajor Gift Launches Visibility, Global Monitoring Of Seagrass
Page 1 of 2http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/cj_nr/2007/dec/bp19seagrass.cfm.html
 
Major Gift Launches Visibility, Global Monitoring Of
Seagrass
Contact:  Beth Potier 
603-862-1566
UNH Media Relations
December 19, 2007
DURHAM, N.H. – Thanks to international efforts centered at the University of New Hampshire,
“Save the Seagrass” might be the next rage in conservation-minded T-shirts and bumper
stickers.
SeagrassNet, a global monitoring program founded and directed by UNH research professor
Fred Short, aims to provide a global assessment of coastal marine seagrasses while increasing
government and public awareness of the importance of seagrass habitat.
Now a multi-million dollar gift from the Otto Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable
Foundation is forging an innovative partnership between SeagrassNet and Conservation
International, expanding SeagrassNet’s worldwide reach as well as funding a series of
workshops globally, to evaluate seagrasses for possible “red listing” as threatened or
endangered.
“The university greatly appreciates the support for SeagrassNet by the Otto Fund of the New
Hampshire Charitable Foundation,” said UNH President Mark Huddleston, “and we share Dr.
Short’s enthusiasm for this expansion of his global seagrass initiative.”
“Seagrasses are a barometer of the health of the coastal system,” said Short. “Although
they’re mostly submerged, they require light. And most things we do to the ocean decrease
the amount of light that reaches them. Seagrasses are an indicator of how things are doing in
the coastal zone.”
Among the most productive plant communities on the planet, seagrass beds serve as
protective nurseries for juvenile fish and shellfish, a habitat for many marine species, and a
feeding ground for predatory fish, waterfowl and large sea creatures like manatees and sea
turtles. The root and rhizome system of these flowering plants stabilizes sediments, protecting
the coastline from currents and weather-related erosion. Seagrass is an effective filter of
nutrients and particulates, and it is the basis of a detrital food chain that feeds fish and
shellfish.
Providing tools and training to local teams at 70 monitoring sites in 23 countries, SeagrassNet
has evaluated two-thirds of the global species of seagrass and compiled a global report card
reflecting the health of seagrass worldwide. With SeagrassNet and other data, seagrasses are
now being considered for red-listing by the Global Marine Species Assessment, a joint
initiative of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
(IUCN) and Conservation International.
9/13/17, 11(53 AMMajor Gift Launches Visibility, Global Monitoring Of Seagrass
Page 2 of 2http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/cj_nr/2007/dec/bp19seagrass.cfm.html
Short hopes that the SeagrassNet program will bring to seagrasses the attention that whales,
manatees, or even coral reefs have enjoyed. “Lack of visibility has been a real problem for
seagrass,” said Short. “Yet seagrasses are equally or maybe more important and more widely
distributed than coral reefs.”
The gift has been crucial to expanding SeagrassNet’s global reach. “When you start working
globally, there is no federal funding available, only private,” said Short. “The beauty of this gift
is that there are no geographic restrictions.” Indeed, the gift has allowed SeagrassNet to
expand its work into the Indian Ocean, Africa, and the Middle East.
Short also credits the partnership between The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the
Otto Fund with bringing SeagrassNet and Conservation International together in what has
become a fruitful collaboration. “That’s an impressive thing for a benefactor to do,” said Short.
For more information on SeagrassNet global monitoring, go to www.SeagrassNet.org.
The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation has been improving the quality of life in our
communities since 1962. It builds and manages a collection of charitable funds, totaling more
than $400 million, created by individuals, families and corporations. In 2006, the Foundation
awarded $30 million in grants and scholarships. For more information, visit www.nhcf.org.
Conservation International is a non-profit organization whose mission is to conserve the
Earth’s living heritage -- our global biodiversity -- and to demonstrate that human societies
are able to live harmoniously with nature. CI applies innovative science, economics and policy
and develops partnerships with like-minded institutions and local and national governments.
For more information, go to www.conservation.org.


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Major Gift Launches Visibility, Global Monitoring Of Seagrass

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