💚 Skeletons That Save Coral Reefs 🐟
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Happy Thursday 👋
What images come to your mind when you think about the Great Barrier Reef? For me, it used to be those of a natural wonder, displaying a magnificent range of colors and species.
When I was a kid, I always dreamt about diving in the Great Barrier Reef one day. But now, my dream would be that they—and all other reefs—will be restored again.
And, unfortunately, the first image of the Great Barrier Reef that comes to mind now is that of bleached corals. My thoughts have changed to concerns about the declining reef and fear that our reefs might be dying out…
That’s why I’m especially happy to share today’s main story with you!
🐟 Discovered: Coral ‘Skeletons’ Could Help Restore Coral Reefs
Exciting news: ‘Skeletons’ that are made from construction waste could help restore coral reefs at a massive scale!
Coral reefs are often called the rainforests of the sea and are home to over 4,000 organisms.
But did you know that most coral reefs grow less than 1 inch (2.54 cm) annually and can take years to develop? That’s why the destruction of coral reefs can be so devastating as they mostly don’t get the time to restore themselves…
Now, there is hope.
Coral scientist Taryn Foster (and CEO of Coral Maker) has developed a novel approach to saving coral reefs on a global scale.
They invented a way to help corals grow faster: coral ‘skeletons’ made from recycled stone waste.
These coral skeletons each have six small spaces where fragments of corals can be attached. Over time, the coral fragments will then grow and fuse together into one piece.
This enables the corals to become established much more quickly. And—depending on the type of coral—this could happen in months rather than years.
These coral ‘skeletons’ can significantly aid the overall recovery of corals and help protect our marine ecosystems.
And while we still have a long way to go to restore them all, this new method of coral reef preservation can make a huge wave for our Earth’s oceans!
📢 More Good News…
👉 Banning gillnet fishing in the Great Barrier Reef: Australian government officials have announced a new $160m plan that includes the elimination of commercial gillnet fishing. By 2027, these new net-free zones in the Great Barrier Reef will protect many endangered species, such as dugongs, turtles, and dolphins.
👉 World’s rarest marine mammal has hope for survival: Speaking of gillnet fishing and endangered species, the vaquita porpoise has not faced any population drops since October 2021. Biologists suspect this is due to the 90% decrease in gillnetting and even spotted healthy newborn calves. As long as these conservation measures continue, this species may avoid extinction!
👉 New compostable cling wrap replaces plastic: By using potato waste, these products are preventing plastic waste. This cling wrap is made with potato scraps and only takes a maximum of 180 days to decompose. While it’s currently only available in Australia and the US, the founders plan to expand globally, making it easier for people to live sustainably.
It’s been a great week! Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society!
Stay impactful 💚
Dennis (Founder & Chief Ninja)
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🌎 Event of the Week: Global Wind Day
💨 Did you know that Global Wind Day is celebrated today, on June 15th? Global Wind Day aims to raise awareness for wind energy. Wind energy is one of the most important forms of renewable energy and so this Thursday make sure to learn how you can implement wind energy in your own life or support its expansion!
Below are our favorite articles that are especially relevant for World Oceans Day:
- Wind Energy Explained
- What is the Carbon Footprint of Wind Energy?
- Renewable Energy Explained
- Is All Renewable Energy Sustainable?
📜 This Week in History
🚀 June 16, 1963: Female cosmonaut Valentina V. Tereshkova goes aboard the spacecraft Vostok 6, becoming the first and youngest woman to travel in space. Her spacecraft completes a total of 48 orbits in 71 hours.
📙 June 17, 1958: Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe publishes his popular novel, “Things Fall Apart”. The book discusses African identity and the effects of European colonialism and quickly inspires other African writers across the world.
✊🏾 June 19, 1865: Juneteenth marks the end of slavery after the US Civil War. Enslaved African Americans in Texas are finally declared free, celebrating their freedom after centuries of pain and struggle.
💭 Quote of the Week
“It [the Earth] was breathtakingly beautiful, like something out of a fairy tale. There is no way to describe the joy of seeing the Earth. It is blue, and more beautiful than any other planet.”
– Valentina V. Tereshkova; engineer, cosmonaut, and the first woman to fly in space
