<
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/divers-philippines-create-nurseries-rescued-coral-2024-04-16/>
'BAUAN, PHILIPPINES, April 16 (
Reuters) - A group of scuba diving experts and
enthusiasts are setting up coral nurseries in a popular dive spot south of
Philippine capital Manila to help in the propagation and recovery of damaged
coral.
In coastal town Bauan in Batangas province, divers collect coral damaged and
dislodged by natural calamities and man-made interference such as plastic waste
and dynamite fishing, and salvage living parts before placing them in coral
nurseries.
"If we select those that are actually more tolerant to climate change, to
higher temperature, that can survive higher temperature, then you can actually
propagate more, so next time you are actually like building a reef of the
future," said marine scientist Sam Shu Qin, co-founder of non-profit
conservationist group Our Singapore Reefs which is taking part in the
initiative.
Bauan, a two-hour drive from Manila, boasts a diverse coral population which
has attracted diving enthusiasts for decades. But its coral has frequently
suffered from natural hazards such as typhoons and human-caused destruction,
endangering the ecosystem and tourism industry.
In 2020, parts of surrounding Batangas province suffered a mass coral bleaching
event - when high temperature turns coral white through algae loss - with about
72 kilometres (45 miles) of coastline affected, said conservationist group Reef
Watch Philippines.
It prompted Bauan-based scuba diving instructor and resort owner Carmela
Sevilla to plant nurseries for detached coral, and invite likeminded
conservationists to join the initiative.
Aside from providing a home for orphaned coral, nurseries serve as repositories
in case there is a need to replenish coral amid environmental challenges
brought by climate change, such as mass bleaching.'
Via
Reasons to be Cheerful:
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/what-were-reading-waffle-gardens-sign-language-on-tv-and-more/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
