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At the beginning of the year, we joined forces with The Oceancy association for the "Coral Again for N.Velidhoo" project. The donations by WeWard users, converted into support to The Oceancy by our application, are currently paying off!
Do you remember the coral restoration initiative that WeWard has generously supported thanks to your steps earlier this year?
Well, the moment we've all been waiting for has finally arrived!
Laura and Zachary are two dedicated biologists who, thanks to your steps converted into support to charity, have embarked on a fantastic initiative.
Between October 11th until December 12th, they have been tirelessly working in the waters of the Maldives to replant 2,000 coral fragments.
And they are not alone in this mission! Five passionate volunteers and one full-time assistant from N.Velidhoo Island have gradually joined Laura and Zachary in this awe-inspiring endeavor. Laura and Zachary also could see the results with their own eyes.
Not only recovery and restoration of the coral reef, but your support is also helping in improving local capacity. Indeed, Baokalo, a well-established NGO in N.Velidhoo, is involved in the development of local knowledge. Every step that you dedicate to this project will bring more training to the members of Baokalo living in N.Velidhoo. This collaboration has already involved the training of more than 10 members, several talks to more than 200 kids at the local school and the creation of a full-time short term paid position for a passionate young boy from N.Velidhoo. Increasing knowledge about the surrounding reef, increasing skills in preserving the environment and creating new sources of income are key components of a successful restoration project.
We are reposting videos taken by our generous supporters during the coral replanting mission on our Instagram account @wewardapp.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz332SbNdKs/?img_index=8
After settling in, the team began monitoring the reefs around Velidhoo and Raafushi Islands. The monitoring data provided vital insights into reef health and potential coral fragment collection sites. They employed three survey techniques: Manta tow (which involved a surveyor being towed by a boat in the water, allowing the team to quickly cover extensive reef areas and identify promising exploration spots), fish surveys (team members swam along 10-meter transects, recording the fish species encountered) and benthic photos (images were captured along the same 10-meter transects, offering detailed insights into reef composition, as well as coral diversity and abundance).
Through these techniques, the team conducted a comprehensive exploration of the marine ecosystems surrounding N. Velidhoo and Raafushi Islands.
Coral reefs act as natural guardians of marine ecosystems by protecting coasts from erosion caused by waves and storms. Moreover, coral reefs are a source of food and livelihood for many coastal communities worldwide. Unfortunately, these precious ecosystems are now facing threats such as climate change, pollution, and overfishing.
The teams at WeWard and The Oceancy are proud to have collaborated for this fundamental cause. Stay tuned, as new ambitious projects are on the horizon, which we will be able to accomplish through your steps!
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