CORALPALOOZA™ 2020 WENT DIGITAL!
It happened! Coralpalooza™ Digital 2020 went live on Saturday, and our first online celebration of coral reefs was a success!
For the past five years, CRF™ has deployed an army of ocean lovers to actively restore coral reefs both in Florida and globally in celebration of World Oceans Day. Even though this year's festivities looked a little different, we were no less impressed by the commitment of our partners, the incredible content, and all of our amazing attendees.
The event was such a hit that we want to keep celebrating with you! All of the exciting interviews, videos, and activities will be available through August 25, 2020. Register for free to access exclusive content from CRF™ and our event partners.
Keep reading for a glance into the celebration. And don't forget to subscribe to the Coral Chronicles so you don't miss next week's edition of Heads Up where we're featuring CRF's Kid Zone at Coralpalooza™ Digital 2020. We'll continue to share event content in the Coral Chronicles for the entire month of June!
Coralpalooza™ Digital 2020 virtual event platform.
THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS
On Saturday, CRF™ CEO Scott Winters and NOAA's Coral Reef Restoration Lead Tom Moore kicked off Coralpalooza™ Digital 2020 with an introduction to coral reefs and the world of coral restoration.
"Humanity is facing the loss of one of Earth’s greatest ecosystems: tropical coral reefs. The reasons for the loss are complex and vary, but Coralpalooza is about hope… through individual actions, no matter how great or how small, each of us can change the world", said Scott Winters, CEO, Coral Restoration Foundation™.
After Winters shared his opening remarks, he introduced Tom Moore who dove deep into the world of coral reefs. He discussed corals at their most basic, biological level and how much of an impact they have on human health, biodiversity, and global and local economies.
CRF™ CEO Scott Winters shares his opening remarks.
Moore continued by discussing the loss of coral reefs around the world and what could happen if they disappear in the next century. But don't let this get you down because he also touches on some of the most promising initiatives that could save our reefs. From research to science to restoration, organizations across the globe are focusing on different approaches to help our coral reefs.
NOAA Coral Reef Restoration Lead Tom Moore dives into the world of coral restoration.
Sometimes the task of saving coral reefs seems too daunting. But Moore explains how modest increases in effort and efficiency can result in exponential change for the fate of our reefs. He ends his keynote address on this inspiring note:
"It's going to take fresh thinking to solve these problems globally. The easy solution, and the one we've chosen over and over, is to ignore the problem - hope it will go away and focus on things we can easily see and touch. But giving up is not an option. We need to shift from reaction to action, and we need all of you to be part of the solution."
CHATTING WITH PHILIPPE COUSTEAU
CRF™ Communications Director, Alice Grainger, had the opportunity to interview some ocean heroes who are making major waves in coral conservation. Among these were Philippe Cousteau and Richard Vevers.
You might recognize the Cousteau name, as Philippe is the grandson of legendary marine conservationist, underwater explorer, and SCUBA pioneer Jacques Cousteau. He provided insight on what it's like to continue the Cousteau legacy and shared the magic of his first experience diving on a coral reef.
CRF™ Communications Director Alice Grainger chats with Philippe Cousteau.
He spoke not only to the tragic degradation of coral reefs he has witnessed worldwide, but also to the encouraging effects of conservation efforts including substantial increases in biodiversity. Cousteau is the co-founder of EarthEcho International, a non-profit which focuses on environmental education, particularly for youth, as the foundation of conservation and building a sustainable future.
YOU ASKED, WE ANSWERED!
Staff members Dan Burdeno, JD Reinbott, and Amelia Moura sat down with CRF's Alex Neufeld to answer questions submitted online by our community. Topics ranged from restoration techniques and scientific collaborations to volunteer opportunities and favorite activities at CRF™. Science Program Manager Amelia Moura explained our monitoring methods, what metrics we record, and how we've observed ~70% survivorship in our outplants.
CRF™ staff answers submitted questions live.
Volunteer Coordinator JD Reinbott dove into the many opportunities we have for people to get involved on multiple levels, from single-day dive programs to long-term volunteering and educational internships. Restoration Program Coordinator Dan Burdeno answered questions about the effects of hurricane Irma on our nursery, describing the preparations made to reduce impacts and the inevitable damage caused by uncontrollable variables. Thank you to everyone who submitted questions, we had so much fun answering them!
We compiled all of the videos you sent us showing your #CoralPassion into one, and it was incredible! Thank you to everyone who submitted videos, contributing to an inspiring display of ocean love.
Andrea Williams shares her #coralpassion.
If you missed it at Coralpalooza™ or just want an extra dose of positivity in your day, watch the compilation now! If you haven't already, please register your name and email to gain access.
KEEP CELEBRATING WITH US!
Did you miss Coralpalooza™ on June 6? Fret not! All of the exciting interviews, videos, and activities will be available through August 25, 2020! Register to access exclusive content from CRF™ and our event partners.
If you participated live and just couldn't get enough, click here to revisit Coralpalooza™ any time until August 25, 2020.
"Diving In" Editorial Intern
Sabine is a recent graduate from Northern Arizona University where she earned a B.S. in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with an emphasis in Global Sustainability and a minor in German. Growing up in Colorado, she did not have easy access to the water, but went on multiple family vacations to islands and beaches along the East Coast of the U.S. These vacations sparked a lifelong love for the ocean and the marine environment.
She became SCUBA certified in 2018 in
order to intern at COREsea, a research and education organization in Thailand.
Being immersed in the reefs around the island of Koh Phangan daily for 6 weeks hooked her on both the sport of diving and the conservation of coral reefs. Observing intense bleaching, mortality, and loss of biodiversity on the reefs inspired Sabine to focus her energy on the conservation and restoration of coral ecosystems. She is excited to expand her knowledge and get more hands-on experience in coral restoration as well as share her passion for the ocean and the future of coral reefs through outreach and education programs with CRF™.