Today, we join the global community in recognizing the importance of preserving the rich variety of life on our planet. Within the ocean’s vast reservoir of biodiversity, coral reefs stand out as the foundation of 25% of all marine life. Beyond their undeniable ecological importance, coral reefs provide $375 billion in economic benefits and resources annually — bolstering tourism and fisheries, and serving as a barrier against storm surges in coastal communities.
In recent years, climate change has wreaked havoc on these vital ecosystems, with scientists now reporting the fourth global mass bleaching event since the 1990s, devastating more than 60% of the world’s reefs. Surveys estimate that we’ve lost 50% of all coral reefs since 1950, and are on a trajectory to lose 90% by 2050.
As we contend with news of unprecedented die-offs and lagging progress toward 30x30 conservation targets, we’re heartened by the renewed commitment of organizations and start-ups around the globe, including several Collective members, working to restore and conserve the future of coral reefs. Learn about a few of them here:???
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CCell - Listen to our oceans
is pioneering new technologies to build modular reef structures with mineral accretion technology that protect coastlines from erosion and foster? varied habitats for marine life, all while functioning as digitized hubs that aid the monitoring and analysis of marine data. ?
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Coral Guardian
is dedicated to conservation, awareness programs, and reef science. Working in partnership with local communities, Coral Guardian has established projects in Indonesia, Spain, and Kenya to restore biodiversity and encourage the sustainable management of marine ecosystems.
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Coral Vita
is?cultivating resilient corals in land-based farms and transplanting them back into degraded reefs, using breakthrough methods to enhance their growth rate and resistance to climate change. Learn more about the company’s efforts to scale restoration efforts in this conversation on our podcast, Upwell, with Chief Reef Officer
Sam Teicher
.
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rrreefs
is rebuilding vital ecosystems one block at a time with its innovative, 3D-printed modular reef system. By combining science, art, and education, rrreefs aims to revive 1 % of coastal coral reefs by 2034.?
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IntelliReefs
is developing and deploying advanced artificial reef systems with a proprietary nanotechnology mineral mixture called Oceanite. These bio-enhancing substrates are designed to mimic natural coral reefs, promoting rapid marine life settlement and providing durable and scalable infrastructure to restore degraded ocean ecosystems.
- Only One impact partners
Blue Corner Marine Research
and
Ocean Gardener
in Indonesia and
Coral Gardeners
in French Polynesia are resuscitating coral reefs through large-scale planting initiatives fueled by community stewardship. Learn more about how you can support this work by planting your own corals with an Only One membership.
- Niue’s Ocean Conservation Commitments (OCCs) concept was recognized as a World Changing Idea in Fast Company’s annual awards. The program is a first of its kind sponsorship model that allows anyone to chip in and protect a part of the country’s waters for a quick online purchase of about $150. ?
- Kenya declared May 10 a national tree-planting holiday to mark the start of a major program aimed at mitigating climate change while honoring the lives of those affected by ongoing floods after years of drought. The nation has set a goal to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.? ?
- An AI model has identified over 100 previously unidentified biodiversity hotspots in the Western Indian Ocean. ?
- Conservationists in Thailand have released 11 baby leatherback sea turtles into the Indian Ocean. The turtles are being monitored with satellite trackers to enhance conservation efforts and gather critical data on their movements and habitats in an initiative to boost the survival rates of the endangered species and improve strategies for their protection. ?
- A study has found that biodiversity loss is the primary environmental factor driving the spread and increased danger of infectious disease outbreaks. ?
- The “jellification” of the Arctic may have already started. As Arctic waters warm and sea ice melts, jellyfish and other zooplankton are expanding northward, potentially disrupting Arctic ecosystems. ?
- Led by marine biologist
Megan Morikawa, PhD
,
Iberostar Group
is demonstrating the private sector’s potential in scaling sustainability solutions by building coral research labs, implementing AI-powered waste management systems, and collaborating within the travel industry to lower carbon emissions.
