Coral reefs are sometimes described as the ‘rainforests of the sea’. They are some of the most bio diverse and productive ecosystems on earth. Despite taking up less than one percent of the oceans floor, they provide homes to more than a quarter of all marine species.
Unsurprisingly, as a result of human-made greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report by the World Resources Institute, 75% of the world’s coral reefs are at risk from local and global stresses. They face chronically warmer water, more intense marine heat waves, and an increasingly acidic ocean. Our nominating partners in the Caribbean are taking action to protect endangered coral reefs.
Iris Prize in Bequia and Questelles, St Vicent
The St Vincent and the Grenadines Environment Fund (SVGEF) is an affiliate foundation of the Conservation Collective. In 2021, SVGEF ran a pilot Iris project in memory of Iris Goldsmith that they hoped would nurture and foster a passion for nature in young people in the Region.
Aimed at encouraging entrepreneurial teenagers and youngsters to take action on local sustainability matters, SVGEF identified that the local youth were particularly concerned about the decaying state of coral reefs due to sea temperature rise and bleaching events in the Caribbean and the effects of beach erosion on the health of coastal ecosystems and, consequently, local communities.
Ranging from coral reef rehabilitation and mangrove restoration in Bequia, to waste management in Questelles, the three winning projects were awarded a cash donation of US$1,000.00 each to achieve their mission and enable young individuals to lead the action towards a more sustainable Future.
In better news, a recent study in Nature Scientific Reports has discovered climate-resilient coral species offering hope for the world’s reefs! Read more here.
