Indonesia is moving forward with a plan to designate 17 seagrass habitats as national strategic areas for blue carbon, which could significantly enhance its carbon storage capabilities and support coastal communities. The initiative, announced by the fisheries ministry, aims to cut emissions and protect marine ecosystems, as seagrass can capture carbon up to 35 times more effectively than tropical rainforests. However, experts caution that the plan must avoid privatization and ensure fair benefit-sharing to prevent conflicts and elite capture. With Indonesia holding 11.5% of the world's seagrass meadows, the urgency for protection is critical as these ecosystems are disappearing globally. The proposed zones are expected to store over 30 million tons of carbon, but success hinges on transparent governance and community involvement to ensure that local populations benefit from the initiative.