Save The Waves Coalition

BIG NEWS! Oriente Salvaje, El Salvador is officially dedicated as the 13th World Surfing Reserve! Save The Waves Coalition and our local partners are proud to recognize, protect and steward the first WSR in El Salvador. ?? 19km of coastline ?? 12+ surf breaks - Las Flores and Punta Mango ?? 6000+ hectares of Tropical Dry Forest “Oriente Salvaje is a truly diverse coastline and deserving of the WSR title. Some of Central America’s last wild tropical dry forests are a backdrop to these world class waves. It really is something special and worth protecting.” - Trent Hodges, Senior Manager of World Surfing Reserves Many thanks to the Coalition of partners, supporters and friends who made this possible. By working together, we can protect the places we love. Paso Pacifico, O'Neill, World Surf League One Ocean, Surf Industry Members Association (SIMA)

"Surfing is priceless. But as the places where waves consistently break in Santa Cruz County are threatened by climate change, a group of advocates is asking a difficult question: What is the economic value of a wave?" Black Surf Santa Cruz Integral Consulting Inc.

I pulled on my wetsuit and scrambled across the cold sand this morning to paddle out in the chilly waves and rinse out my election-riddled brain. I caught a few fun waves, a few set waves caught me. The pelicans glided overhead. Overall I felt better. I was reminded whatever is happening politically, culturally and emotionally, these little sanctuaries are still important to the mind and soul. People's connection to the ocean still matters. These places remind us that despite what is happening, the sun still comes up each day, the waves still break, and the pelicans don't care. These places remind us all you can steer is your own board; not the waves around you. I believe in protecting these places for all the reasons above and more. Everything has changed, and yet the fundamentals remain. Conservation will come from the bottom up now exclusively, as it probably always should have. Despite the challenges and hardships our sector will undoubtedly face, I will keep supporting the communities around the globe that cherish, steward and depend upon these ecosystems with Save The Waves Coalition and our amazing coalition.

Super stoked when one of your surfing heros gives you and your work a shoutout in the legendary surf publications! Thanks to Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew (AM) and Tracks Magazine and ol' uncle Andrew McKinnon! Read a really good analysis of the legacy of the World Surfing Reserves program. Also thanks to Trent Hodges and the WSR Executive Committee and Vision Council, plus Emmett Balassone for his work on supporting the campaigns. https://lnkd.in/gjpCxUea

Amazing success in the Azores, where we have been working alongside the Waitt Institute, Oceano Azul Foundation as part of the Blue Azores Program. Grateful to the whole collaboration, but especially @andre avelar and Mara Arroyo for their amazing work to include surfing in this initiative, which in some ways is now just beginning. https://lnkd.in/gnx-KRG4

Amazing success in the Azores, where we have been working alongside the Waitt Institute, Oceano Azul Foundation as part of the Blue Azores Program. Grateful to the whole collaboration, but especially @andre avelar and Mara Arroyo for their amazing work to include surfing in this initiative, which in some ways is now just beginning. https://lnkd.in/gnx-KRG4

In the next episode of the #thelead podcast we welcome Hugo Tagholm! Give it a listen here: https://bit.ly/3Nswxgc Hugo is Executive Director of Oceana UK, and formerly Chief Executive of Surfers Against Sewage, where he grew the org from a 2 person operation to over 30 staff, secured support from the Royal Family, and recruited thousands of volunteers. Hugo opens up about the struggles of changing leadership posts, the opportunities and challenges of a large org vs a small org, and setting goals around fitness and mental health. Lots of good lessons from Hugo, and lots of kernels of wisdom to share. Hope you enjoy! ?? Check out Hugo on social @hugotagholm and Ocean UK at @oceana_uk. ?? Listen and share the full podcast episode here: https://lnkd.in/gY2kP6Rg This might be interesting to you folks: Save The Waves Coalition Finisterre flotilla foundation Oceankind Oceans 5 Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance Blue Marine Foundation Brick House Media Surf Industry Members Association (SIMA)

An excellent update from Mara Arroyo Senior Manager, Conservation and Science at Save The Waves Coalition. Recently, Punta del Este hosted the 10th International Waters Conference with the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) ???? I was very grateful to be part of this event and for the opportunity to present our project with Conservation International, Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental, and UNIDO. The International Waters Conference was a key learning and exchange event for projects funded by the GEF in the focal area of International Waters. Together with Conservation International, we hosted a clinic on “Strengthening Marine Conservation Through the Blue Economy, Tourism and Nature-Based Sports” ??????♀??? This space allowed us to share our innovative approach to marine and coastal conservation, using surfing as a vehicle to create networks of surf-protected areas. The conference gathered more than 300 participants, collectively representing around 100 current GEF IW projects, from 80 countries. I’m looking forward to continuing working with our amazing team and expanding the networks of surf-protected areas to other regions around the globe ??

Exciting News! Save The Waves Coalition is thrilled to announce our partnership with the Rivian Foundation! ?? We are honored to be among the 41 inaugural grantees of Rivian Foundation’s launch, which was announced this week. Together, we are helping to protect California’s iconic surf ecosystems and making a lasting impact through this grant. “Rivian’s support to help us protect surf ecosystems goes beyond the wave. It preserves coastal habitats, provides refuge for endemic species, and safeguards local communities who depend on the surfing economy for their livelihoods. Our model of local-to-global partnership in California and beyond is forging a more resilient future against climate change - and spreading stoke while we make a difference through tools like our film festival,” - Nik Strong-Cvetich, CEO of Save The Waves. For more info on the Rivian Foundation, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gZKMYW96?

Surf ecosystems face increasing threats from climate change, but a new parametric insurance model offers an innovative financial solution. We have teamed up with Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance and the Government of Canada, to develop the world's first surf ecosystem climate insurance policy in El Salvador, ensuring coastal communities thrive economically and ecologically amid rising environmental challenges. Thanks to our partners Paso Pacifico, Las Flores Resort, Fondo de Inversión Ambiental de El Salvador, and Advisors at WTW, UCSC Center for Coastal Climate Resilience, Integral Consulting Inc. https://lnkd.in/gzPznikP