Stakeholders' perspectives on seagrass ecosystem services and their threats vary across Zanzibar archipelago, Tanzania

Recognizing the ecosystem functions and services provided by seagrass meadows and their vulnerability to different environmental and anthropogenic stressors is crucial for effective decision-making, especially in resource-dependent regions. This study explored how stakeholders (local communities) living in proximity to three distinct seagrass meadows in Zanzibar (Chwaka, Jambiani, and Stone Town) perceive and rely on seagrass ecosystem services (SES), their threats and factors influencing on their perception. Data were collected through a combination of methods, including participatory rural appraisal, household questionnaire surveys and field observations. Results revealed that local communities across these sites had mixed perceptions regarding SES. Provisioning services (e.g., fish provision) were the mostly identified SES, followed by regulating services (e.g., coastal protection), supporting services (e.g., fish nursery grounds), and cultural services (e.g., ecotourism). Fish provision, nursery habitats, and coastal protection were ranked as the most important SES for sustaining local well-being. Among all predictors analyzed, proximity to the shore, the main occupation of respondents, and residence time were significant factors that influenced the local communities' awareness of all SES. Unregulated fishing practices, overgrazing by sea urchins, and seaweed farming were perceived as the primary causes of seagrass loss in Chwaka and Jambiani, while in Stone Town, seagrass degradation was attributed to increased wave activity and changing tidal regimes, unregulated tourism (boat anchoring), and pollution. The study concludes that the perceived importance of SES and the drivers impacting seagrass ecosystems vary depending on context-specific factors. This strongly emphasizes the need for conservation actors to increase awareness of the multiple benefits generated by seagrasses, restore degraded areas, and devise solutions tailored to specific threats for sustainable management of seagrass meadows.