[Coral-List] Editorial in Science - Refilling the coral reef glass

David Obura dobura at cordioea.net
Fri Sep 22 09:47:02 EDT 2017


Dear listers,

Just to put this opinion piece in front of our community, I was fortunate to be asked for an editorial for Science magazine. So I hope we can use this as a small piece in the puzzle for justifying coral reef and climate action.  We all know it, but it needs so much for broader values to shift …

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/357/6357/1215

We’ve been handed a pig (not too sure about the cover of this week’s issue!), but hopefully we can make it work!! (and no offence to pigs intended!!).

cheers,

David Obura

CORDIO East Africa

www.cordioea.net ; dobura at cordioea.net; davidobura at gmail.com; skype dobura; Twitter @dobura
Mobile: +254-715 067417;

#9 Kibaki Flats, Kenyatta Beach, Bamburi Beach, P.O.BOX 10135 Mombasa 80101, Kenya

On 21 Sep 2017, 18:01 +0200, coral-list-request at coral.aoml.noaa.gov, wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. The Reef Chronicles: VR with a purpose- Kickstarter
> (Brianna Bambic)
> 2. Sunscreen and Coral (dermatology at openmailbox.org)
> 3. Programme to encourage STEM women to become leaders in
> climate change (Adriana Humanes)
> 4. Our ReefSite is just online in Coral Reefs---> sign up to
> support us to save Taoyuan Algae Reef in Taiwan (Allen Chen)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2017 10:49:22 -0700
> From: Brianna Bambic <brianna.bambic at gmail.com
> Subject: [Coral-List] The Reef Chronicles: VR with a purpose-
> Kickstarter
> To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov, jim.hendee at noaa.gov
> Message-ID:
> <CADiuN0uYGboTF-jFWh1hgx+v-GEjdM4dgfm7C5nAhz7jD+cPaw at mail.gmail.com
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> Hello,
>
>
> I have an exciting *educational outreach project* giving people an
> underwater experience of *changing reefs *(archival video vs present day
> 360) using *Virtual Reality*. Because not everyone has the opportunity to
> dive or see what it 'use to look like'.
>
>
> I launched a *Kickstarter* as a part of my *master's thesis *and asking for
> * donations *to create an immersive reef experience using Virtual Reality
> (VR). Research will assess if temporal scale matters and whether VR medium
> can be used as a community engagement tool. I would love to tell you more
> about my project, check it out here:
>
>
> https://www..kickstarter.com/projects/divein/the-reef-chronicles
> <https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/divein/the-reef-chronicles
> *Rewards* included for donations. No entity or person will make a profit.
> All donations are for equipment and transportation costs.
>
> Creating *awareness* through a real UNDERWATER experience using 360 viewing!
> Seq1_Cam0_Merge_0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8_100_0000_0000...
> <https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4GjpLJYRprRVFBjQjVFZnhuRlU/view?usp=drive_web
> ?
>
> We hope to create better understanding and awareness of the coral reef
> environment. Thus promoting Virtual Reality (VR) as a *community engagement
> tool*. Here is a recent blog write up:
>
> The Reef Chronicles: VR with a Purpose
> <https://idahovirtualreality.com/reef-chronicles-360video/
>
> And a podcast is coming tomorrow on http://nadeaumedia.com/.
>
> ---------------
>
> Thank you so much for your *support*, deadline is in less than* 2 weeks*.
> $2,250 to go! Unfortunately, no donations count if we don't make the *goal.*
> (experiment.com is on my radar).
>
> Please pass it on to anyone and everyone that would be interested. Much
> appreciated. Have a great day!
>
>
> --
> Brianna Bambic
> University of Akureyri
> Masters | Natural Resource Management
> CMM | University Centre of the Westfjords
>
> Iceland : 354-761-5984
> 17 Tungata | ?safj?rdur 400 | Iceland
>
> US : 208-869-1029
> 13243 Dewey St. | Los Angeles CA 90066 | USA
>
> Social Media:
> https://www.facebook.com/brianna.bambic
> http://instagram.com/bambitrails <http://instagram.com/bambiphotography
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2017 21:33:35 -0000
> From: dermatology at openmailbox.org
> Subject: [Coral-List] Sunscreen and Coral
> To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Message-ID: <20170920213335.7DD014E525B at mta-1.openmailbox.og
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> We're looking for information on the effects of skin care products on coral reefs, sun screen in particular. If someone could reply with any research links, papers, etc it would be extremely appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Dr Jay Kim
> http://dermatologyresearchnews.com
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2017 10:29:41 +0100
> From: Adriana Humanes <adrihumanes at gmail.com
> Subject: [Coral-List] Programme to encourage STEM women to become
> leaders in climate change
> To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Message-ID:
> <CAHQKD=hYxNi2REA1FUYApE-gmQp9h=yAK2wY0v8xMoNowOCvew at mail.gmail..com
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> *Programme to encourage STEM women to become leaders in climate change*
>
> Applications are currently open for the Homeward Bound programme
> <http://homewardboundprojects.com.au/application/>, a global enterprise
> that uses creative approaches to train professional STEM women who
> investigate the causes and consequences of climate change.
>
> Homeward Bound aims to give researchers with leadership potential
> innovative tools with which they can influence the design of policies and
> actions, for the sustainable management of our natural resources. The
> year-long programme provides individual coaching, leadership training and
> the developing of various projects related to the effects of climate
> change. At the end of this training phase, participants meet in person and
> take part in a 3-week Antarctic expedition, which includes further
> workshops on leadership, strategic planning and climate change
> education. Applications
> for the Homeward Bound programme are open until *25 September*.
> --
> --
>
> Adriana Humanes
>
> www.adrianahumanes.com
>
> Participant of *Homeward Bound: *
> To support my participation in this program please visit my fundraising page
> <https://www.chuffed.org/project/adrianahumanes>.
>
> Postdoctoral Associate Researcher
>
> Ridley Building 2
> Newcastle University
> Claremont Road
> Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU
> Telephone: +44 (0)191 208 6441 <+44%20191%20208%206441
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2017 21:40:53 +0800
> From: Allen Chen <acropora.chen at gmail.com
> Subject: [Coral-List] Our ReefSite is just online in Coral Reefs---
> sign up to support us to save Taoyuan Algae Reef in Taiwan
> To: coral-list coral-list <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Message-ID: <203B93DE-D415-45FF-811E-E15A597C4E07 at gate.sinica.edu..tw
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> Dear Coral-Listers,
>
> First of all, I would like to thank those colleagues who have signed up in our petition to save Taoyuan algal reefs in Taiwan. Up to now, we have collected 4547 signatures to support the conservation action. Our action has brought Taiwanese government to seriously consider the alternative site for constructing the 3rd Liquid Natural Gas receiving station.
>
> Secondly, I would like to draw your attention that our short description of this unusual reef entitled ?Unprecedented calcareous algal reefs in northern Taiwan merit high conservation priority? is already online in Coral Reefs (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00338-017-1619-0 <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00338-017-1619-0>). There is a supplemental video on the website that you can see this usual reef on the top of intertidal flat from sky. To me, this is really an amazing scene.
>
> Thanks again for those colleagues who have signed up the petition. To those whom just read our ReefSite, please sign up and support our action to save Taoyuan algal reef in Taiwan.
>
> Cheers, Allen
>
> Allen Chen, PhD (JCU)
> Professor/ Research Fellow
> Biodiversity Research Center
> Academia Sinica
> Taipei, Taiwan
> E-mail:cac at gate.sinica.edu.tw/ <http://gate.sinica.edu.tw/> acropora.chen at gmail.com <mailto:acropora.chen at gmail.com
> Tel:886-2-27899549/886-930073637
> Skype:acropora403 <skype:acropora403
>
> > Begin forwarded message:
> >
> > From: Allen Chen <acropora.chen at gmail.com <mailto:acropora.chen at gmail.com
> > Subject: [Coral-List] sign up to support us to save Taoyuan Algae Reef in Taiwan
> > Date: September 6, 2017 at 17:28:37 GMT+8
> > To: coral-list coral-list <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov <mailto:coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> >
> > Dear Coral-Lister,
> >
> > I would like to draw your attention that we are running a campaign to save an extraordinary ?algae reef? in the Taoyuan coast, Taiwan. Please visit our petition website (http://creeg.biodiv.tw/SaveAlgaereef/en/savealgaereefs/ <http://creeg.biodiv.tw/SaveAlgaereef/en/savealgaereefs/> <http://creeg.biodiv.tw/SaveAlgaereef/en/savealgaereefs/ <http://creeg.biodiv.tw/SaveAlgaereef/en/savealgaereefs/>>) and sign up to support us!
> >
> > We just have had a ReefSite, entitled ?Unprecedented calcareous algal reefs in northern Taiwan merit a high conservation priority" accepted and in press in Coral Reefs.
> >
> > Taoyuan algae reef, built mainly bycrustose coralline algae (CCA), is an extraordinary massive reef found on tidal flats extending continuously along the coastline of Taoyuan City, Northwest Taiwan. It is approximately 27km in length and a maximum of 450m in width with a large tidal range of 4m.
> >
> > Carbon-14 dating indicated the age of the reef to be around 7500 BP, and consisted of some sediment-tolerant corals, such as Cyphastrea, and Dipsastraea. After 4400 BP to the present, the CCA genera, such as Mesophyllum, Phymatolithon, and Harveylithon, have contributed to the present algal reef through constant growth over time as stacked layers over the surface of the reef which is porous in its appearance. The Taoyuan CCA reef performs similar ecosystem functions to those of coral reefs.
> >
> > However, long-term industrial pollution and continuous habitat destruction by land reclamation for the industrial park, windmill constructions, particularly the recent development project of a liquid nature gas (LNG) receiving station and port by the Taiwan Chinese Petroleum Cooperation (CPC) threaten the future of Datan algae reef system.
> >
> > Local communities, NGOs, and Academy have raised serious concerns that over 300 hectares of Datain algae reefs will be directly impacted and disappeared once the environmental impact assessment of this project is approved. The worse scenario of hydraulic model test indicates that the neighbor Guanxin Algal Reef Wildlife Protected Area (GARWPA) will be continuously destroyed by littoral drift due to groin effect of CPC-LNG port jetty construction, highlighting the merit of prioritizing conservation of this unique ecosystem in Taiwan.
> >
> >
> > Thus, we request Taiwan government to:
> >
> > 1. Recognise the uniqueness and preciousness of Taoyuan algae reef and declare the Datan algae reef as a national-protected natural landscape under the legal protection in Taiwan.
> >
> > 2. Stop the Guan Tan industrial park developmental project and the construction of the 3rd liquid natural gas receiving station/ port immediately.
> >
> > 3. Reconsider the alternative location, such as Taipei harbour, for the construction of the 3rd liquid natural gas receiving station/ port to fulfil the need of the national energy policy for non-nuclear homes, reduction of carbon dioxide emission?.
> >
> > Please sign up and support us to save the Taoyuan algae reefs.
> >
> > Thank you!
> >
> > Cheers, Allen
> >
> > Allen Chen, PhD (JCU)
> > Professor/ Research Fellow
> > Biodiversity Research Center
> > Academia Sinica
> > Taipei, Taiwan
> > E-mail:cac at gate.sinica.edu.tw/ <http://gate.sinica.edu.tw/> <http://gate.sinica.edu.tw/ <http://gate.sinica.edu.tw/>> acropora.chen at gmail.com <mailto:acropora.chen at gmail.com> <mailto:acropora.chen at gmail.com <mailto:acropora.chen at gmail.com
> > Tel:886-2-27899549/886-930073637
> > Skype:acropora403 <skype:acropora403> <skype:acropora403 <skype:acropora403
> > _______________________________________________
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