Planting corals: This is what happened at EcosystemImpact

More than three months ago we launched our Coral Edition launched to support the important project of Ecosystem Impact to support and protect the Corals into our collective consciousness. The aim of the whole campaign is to coral reef off Sumatra in Indonesia. Since the launch, a lot has happened in terms of Planting corals and we want to give you a little insight into this!

Recently, the EcosystemImpact crew set off on a boat to the neighboring islands Babi and Lasia Due to the intact and remote ecosystem and after thorough research, the coral conservation program is to be located off the small uninhabited islands in the future. The goal of the trip was suitable viewpoints for the future coral nests and already a first "Spider Web Structure" to plant on a trial basis. You can see how the metal frame would look in this picture:

This is to first check whether the chosen location is actually suitable for planting additional corals. To increase the chances of survival of the new corals, the small Coral seedlings removed in advance from large corals in the area. It also remains to be seen whether the structures Thefts are safe. In the past, the metal structures have been stolen and resold on the market for little money.

After the first coral network was deposited, a few weeks later another group, consisting of some local fishermen and Government members , set off for Babi and Lasia to investigate whether the first attempt was a success and whether the continuation of the project is feasible.

But all the planting of new coral reefs is of little use if the local population does not understand what is being done there and why it is so important to protect the corals. That is why the educational work one of the most important points for EcosystemImpact's project.

In the first step, the team EcosystemImpact has been intensively trained to ensure that they can adequately pass on their knowledge. Therefore, a central role Fitri . She grew up on the island of Simeulue and the important link between the Western world and the local Indonesian population. In the future, it will impart knowledge about the environment and coral conservation to local people, fishermen, and future rangers on an equal footing.

The EcosystemImpact team has also met with many different members of the Simeulue government and the surrounding communities over the past few weeks to legal basis The Simeulue Environment and Conservation Government was very enthusiastic about the project and has full support assured.

Some members of the government also accompanied the trip to the islands of Babi and Lasia to see the planned planting of new corals to watch live and clarify any questions. Overall, the day was a huge success. Everyone present was completely enthusiastic and some Uncertainties be put aside. For example, the question arose: "Kenapa mau mananam batu?" In other words: "Why should we plant stones?"

The organization is currently also working on setting up a 12-person Ranger teams to protect the coral meshes from possible theft. But not only the theft is a threat to the corals. The locals live from fishing and therefore often resort to drastic methods, such as Bomb fishing or fishing using harmful Poison .

In addition, the Community Ranger Project serves to training and enlightenment about the importance of coral reefs. Among other things, local fishermen are trained as rangers with the aim of creating harmony between the coral reefs and the local population and raising awareness of this valuable natural resource among the locals. Security The rangers also help to ensure that the corals can grow undisturbed and settle there permanently.

During the recent visit to Babi and Lasia, a group of fishermen were shown the first coral mesh planted and a second mesh was installed. This was also intended to serve as a training and demonstration example.

After the fishermen and directly affected groups have been informed, in the near future younger generations the importance of corals. Fitri is being trained to carry out coral transplants independently. This process will then also be Underwater cameras to constantly monitor the progress of the corals.

After a large part of the population has been informed about the protection of corals, the construction of a Marine protection management This is planned. This will be responsible for the affected areas in the long term.

In the future, further meetings will take place between the EcosystemImpact Crew and some government members, for example with the Environmental Department the government of Simeulue. Because the most important thing about EcosystemImpact’s work is the Symptom control , which means that the problem should be addressed at its root, and as long as the framework and awareness for planting corals are not created, hundreds of corals should not be planted. Therefore, the initial goal is positive relationships with local fishermen and government groups.

For years now, this has been Die of the corals and so in the last 30 years we have already seen about 50% of the world's corals are being lost - and the trend is increasing. Scientists estimate that by 2050 we will have lost 90% of the coral populations on this earth. Unfortunately, there are many reasons for this dramatic development.

The greatest threat to coral reefs is the advancing Climate change , which is causing the oceans to warm up increasingly. Often it is unclear to us why Temperature increase of two degrees should be so dramatic, since we hardly notice this difference in our surroundings. But imagine your Body temperature would be permanently increased by two degrees - that would be quite exhausting and more than threatening for your body.

The same applies to the sea and its inhabitants. But similar to fever in humans, corals are affected by the Coral bleaching . Corals undergo the bleaching process before it becomes critical and the individual coral ultimately dies completely.

The increased water temperature means great stress for the corals and they repel the living organisms algae However, since these are responsible for the food supply, the coral lacks important nutrients and it starves. Even though it looks like the coral is simply Color lose, the bleaching process can be explained by the fact that the colored algae die and only the white skeleton the coral remains.

But unfortunately, our oceans are not only getting warmer, but also more acidic . This is due to the increasing concentration of CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere and ultimately in the water. The increased CO2 Content in the waters makes the PH value sink. This has devastating consequences for the corals. They react very sensitively to this change and are disrupted in their growth and calcification.

But in addition to climate change, destructive fishing methods in fishing poses a huge threat to corals. This includes, for example, the Bomb fishing , where reefs are bombed to attract the fish that live there. However, there are other illegal fishing methods, such as Compression fishing and the anchoring or launching of Drag nets that drag and destroy the reefs.

Unfortunately, the toxic and environmentally harmful Potassium cyanide used to catch fish - a devastating fishing method for the surrounding coral reefs.

And of course, the pollution of the oceans by our plastic waste a huge problem for the corals. Large plastic parts can become entangled in the coral reefs and cause serious damage. Even more critical, however, is the tiny Microplastics for the corals. They mistake the tiny particles for plankton, poison themselves, and then unfortunately die. But these are just a few of the many reasons why we should rethink our consumption and live more sustainably. You can find helpful tips for implementation in our blog article on a Living without plastic.

But unfortunately we destroy people, partly through carelessness or ignorance, valuable coral reefs. Therefore, you should always be careful where you walk in the ocean and keep a good distance from the coral reefs when snorkeling. Even if corals are incredibly beautiful to look at, you should never consider them as souvenir from your vacation. The same applies to the much-traded Jewelry made of coral. You can also pay attention to You can find more helpful rules for your next beach holiday and what else you can do to combat coral bleaching in this Article .

But would it really be so bad if the Corals are becoming extinct Sure, the oceans wouldn't be as colorful, but that can't be all there is to it, can it?

In fact, our world’s oceans account for around 71% of the total ecosystem our planet, and for it to function properly, every animal and plant underwater plays a crucial role. This includes corals. On the one hand, they provide a safe haven for millions of fish. Habitat . You can almost imagine coral reefs as real cities Imagine a world in which every fish has its own house.

There they hide from predators and give birth to their babies. Small crabs, snails, mussels, and worms also feel at home there and serve as food for the fish. Food . Some fish, like the parrotfish, even feed directly on the corals, leaving them behind as the fine sand we find on beaches, among other things.

However, we humans also benefit directly from the existence of coral reefs. On many coasts, they serve as protective barrier from tsunamis and also ensure that the coasts of tropical islands are eroded less quickly. The fish living there and the associated Fishing , form a very important livelihood for many people in this world.

But also think about how many tour operators with Snorkeling tours and paradisiacal underwater worlds. Many Jobs worldwide would be in danger if these natural wonders were to disappear forever.

But most importantly, the algae that live on the coral Photosynthesis . Via the coral they reach Carbon dioxide and, in combination with sunlight, convert this into sugar. Similar to plants on land, corals keep the underwater world clean.

When we talk about corals, there is usually great confusion And if we're honest, there was already some confusion among our team about what exactly corals are. Are they plants, animals, or even rocks?

Even though they look like plants, corals are actually fascinating animals that live in a vital symbiosis live with the algae and do not move from their place. Corals consist of white skeletons made up of many millions polyps These polyps are covered with tentacles and tiny stinging cells. More information about the exact Construction of these animals you can find in this Article .

Millions of different corals, such as Soft corals or Hard corals form a large coral reef and thus provide an important habitat for many marine animals.

By the way, corals have existed long before humans and researchers distinguish between around 5,000 different types. Surely you have already heard of "Great Barrier Reef ". It is the world's largest coral reef and is located in Australia . The Great Barrier Reef covers an incredible 2,300 km and is hard to beat in terms of beauty!

As you can see, corals are wonderful creatures and we should do more to protect the beautiful coral reefs in Australia, the Philippines and other places on this earth. This will ensure the survival of a wide variety of marine animals.

The EcosystemImpact team is therefore committed to ensuring that these exciting animals will continue to be with us for a long time to come. However , the first successes will only become apparent after a long time and the most important factor here is the Understanding and the Support of the government. We will, of course, continue to keep you updated on our blog and via social media!

If you would like to learn more about the project and the organization, you should read this Interview with the EcosystemImpact crew!