Meeting of the Parliament 11 February 2026 [Draft]
I thank John Mason for securing the debate. It is a pleasure to speak today on an initiative that has quietly transformed the way in which Parliament engages with Scotland’s natural world. As someone who has proudly taken on the mantle of seagrass champion, I can attest to the power of the nature champions initiative in helping to grow our understanding of the natural heritage that we are all entrusted to protect.
When I was first approached to become seagrass champion, I did not fully appreciate the scale of its significance or the complexity of the ecosystem that it supports. Scotland is home to two true species: eelgrass and dwarf eelgrass, and together they form underwater meadows that are among the most remarkable and most threatened habitats in our marine environment.
For me, what began as a title soon became a genuine interest and fascination. Seagrass meadows are ecological powerhouses. They provide essential habitats for countless species, helping us to move towards our national target of halting biodiversity loss by 2030. They shelter rare species such as native oysters; stabilise the sea floor; improve water quality; and play a significant role in carbon capture, storing carbon at rates that exceed many well-known land habitats. Their contribution to a healthier coastal ecosystem is profound, and their loss would be felt far beyond the shoreline.
Yet, despite their importance, seagrass meadows have suffered a dramatic historical loss. Across the UK, up to 92 per cent have disappeared over the past century. That is why the work of the restoration Forth programme is vital. Restoration Forth, which was launched in 2022, is a community-driven effort to restore seagrass meadows and European flat oysters in the Firth of Forth. Delivered by a coalition including Project Seagrass, WWF Scotland, the Ecology Centre, NatureScot and others, it has already achieved remarkable progress. To date, more than 210,000 seagrass seeds have been planted across the Forth. Volunteers and project partners have also transplanted 880 seagrass cores, with additional trials showing expansion of up to 500 per cent in some of the monitored sites.
It is great to see that more than 3,000 people are taking part in events, workshops, seed processing sessions and restoration activities. Schools and community groups and local volunteers have become custodians of their own coastline, building skills and forging connections that will last long beyond the project’s timeline.
I have had the privilege of joining that work myself on several occasions. One memorable morning, I found myself on a freezing cold beach with a group of volunteers, learning the fine art of injecting seagrass seeds into sediment, using the dispenser injection seeding technique. I now pass the restoration site every morning on the train into Parliament, peering out of the window like a proud and slightly overinvested gardener checking whether his seedlings have sprouted.
Another highlight for me was joining a guided snorkelling session with restoration Forth, the Ecology Centre and WWF Scotland. Experiencing the hidden world of the Forth beneath the surface was nothing short of spectacular. It brought home, in a way that no briefing paper ever could, the richness of the life that depends on those meadows and the urgency of protecting them.
In conclusion, as we look ahead to the elections in May, I encourage all MSPs, both those returning after the election and those who are elected for the first time, to take up the role of nature champion. It is much more than just a title: it is a commitment to understanding, advocating for and celebrating species and habitats that make Scotland unique.