Saving seagrass: What's being done to save the 'wonder plant'?

Scientists in the UK are trying to save seagrass.

It might not sound very interesting (after all it is grass that grows in the sea!) - but it's been described as a climate change-fighting 'wonderplant'.

Experts think that seagrass can help to tackle climate change because it can absorb carbon dioxide much faster than trees can.

Carbon dioxide is a gas which contributes to global warming - that's the rise in temperature of the Earth's atmosphere.

Alec Taylor from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said: "We see seagrass as this wonder plant because of its ability to fight climate change, to help fish stocks, coastal communities and livelihoods."

But, researchers believe that around 92% of the UK's seagrass has been lost in the last 100 years.

It's thought the decline is because of pollution, as well as things that people do, such as mooring boats.

UK seagrass meadows can be home to endangered species like seahorses and sea snails

So, a group of scientists have now started planting seagrass meadows in the UK.

Dr Richard Unsworth, from Swansea University, is leading the project.

He said: "It is not that we can blame one person, industry or organisation, it's the growth of a population around the coast...Planting seagrass is an opportunity to reverse that loss and start to kick into action a recovery for our seas around the UK."

Starting off the coast in Pembrokeshire, they're planting around 20,000 square metres of seagrass seeds.

The new seagrass meadows could also provide a home for wildlife like fishes, snails and seahorses.