[Coral-List] Last 3 days to apply for upcoming - REEF BUILDING WORKSHOP
Hanna Kuhfuss
hanna.kuhfuss at gmail.com
Wed Jul 14 20:48:57 UTC 2021
Dear all,
Since our last post: „Last 3 days to apply for upcoming - REEF BUILDING
WORKSHOP“ has attracted some attention, we try to respond to your
questions, suggestions, and criticisms collectively here. Thank you for
your emails, time, and attention.
1) Briefly to classify us. We are a very young not-for-profit association
founded last year in October. We are a motivated and interdisciplinary team
with scientific, artistic, and dive-technical/scientific-diving background.
We are just at the beginning with this project, even though we have been
independently active in science and science communication for quite some
time (for previous publications and exhibitions please just google Ulrike
Pfreundt, Hanna Kuhfuss, and Marie Griesmar). The clay structures we have
developed (they are pure fired Terracotta clay) have been tested by us in
the laboratory in the flow channel for their hydrodynamic properties and we
are currently evaluating our first biodiversity experiment, which has been
in the water in the Maldives since the end of 2019. The artificial reef we
are building now in Colombia is our first prototype, a real study case, and
our first proof of concept in the wild, with a subsequent multi-year
monitoring program, further R&D, and different studies in partnership with
universities and other organizations working in the coral care sector.
Therefore we have not published or peer-reviewed scientific papers yet. Our
study just started and we will be happy to share our findings when they are
ready to publish.
2) What does rehabilitation mean to us? We are aware of the fact that
actually "restoring" a coral reef is nearly impossible. Then we would also
need a baseline: To which previous condition would it be restored? So,
instead, we aim to rehabilitate coral reefs in the sense that we provide
habitat for a high diversity of organisms, including corals, trying to
provide the best possible starting conditions for the reef ecosystem to
regenerate itself. Creating macro and micro surface textures with our 3-D
printed clay structures that are designed to help coral recruits survive,
as they provide favorable conditions in terms of flow, shelter, and
porosity – of course, this hypothesis needs to be further scientifically
tested. For the future, we aim to scale to self-sustaining breakwaters
designed as green living barriers to restore biodiversity, ecosystem
services such as food provision, coastal protection, and protection of
other marine habitats (mangroves and seagrass meadows). Well, and everyone
has to start small one day – so here we are.
3) Our intention: We aim to work on substrate enhancement methods that can
restore lost habitat in places where reefs cannot recover because
structurally complex habitat is missing, similar to MARS reef spiders but
trying to offer more space for coral larvae instead of relying only on
coral fragments, and trying to generate more habitat altogether. That way,
we hope to achieve higher genetic diversity on our new eco-designed
structures.
We are aware that building new artificial reef structures will not solve
coral die-off directly and will not address climate change, ocean
acidification, and local stressors. I think we agree on that - Mike and
Elizabeth, and hopefully with most of you?! We address those issues
indirectly through our educational work and collaboration with others. We
are trying to give nature more time or is anyone here convinced that
humanity will change overnight and live sustainably? We don't think so. So
would it be more correct to do nothing and wait for a miracle of human
change to happen - preferably already yesterday? No, we think it needs all
of it: rehabilitation, reconstruction, climate action, environmental
protection, protected areas, ban zones, and above all a sustainable global
society, in which people have the same opportunities and possibilities.
Only then will it be possible to live in balance with nature. Well, or at
least with less harm and responsible use of resources.
By designing our engineered structures from science in an aesthetic way,
and including workshop participants and local people in the process, our
hope is that we can use the artificial reef not only for habitat creation
but also as an object that generates interest and curiosity to learn more
about what harms coral reefs and also what makes them so astonishingly
beautiful. We believe that an artificial reef, with the right communication
functioning as an environmental awareness-raising living object, can be a
starting point to address local stressors as well as global issues, and
will reach further than people who directly depend on it.
All the best
yours rrreefs team
Hanna Kuhfuss
Marie Griesmar
Ulrike Pfreundt
Am Mi., 14. Juli 2021 um 17:52 Uhr schrieb William Precht <
william.precht at gmail.com>:
> I encourage people to read
>
> Precht, W.F. and Robbart, M.L. (2006) Coral reef restoration: the
> rehabilitation of an ecosystem under siege. *in* Precht, W.F. (ed) Coral
> Reef Restoration Handbook, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL pp. 1-24
>
> While it is now a little dated it addresses all the arguments being
> discussed in this thread.
>
> If anyone has trouble accessing the chapter - please send me a direct
> email.
>
> Coral reef restoration: the rehabilitation of an ecosystem under siege
> <https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=-AHOBQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=Precht,+W.F.+and+Robbart,+M.L.+Coral+reef+restoration:+the+rehabilitation+of+an+ecosystem+under+siege.+in+Precht,+W.F.+(ed)+Coral+Reef+Restoration+Handbook,+CRC+Press,+Boca+Raton,+FL+pp.+1-24&ots=rTBB_7juCJ&sig=lVAJYPq2dX5Y3iEz6EW5mR7auJM>
> WF Precht
> <https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=cLDYyigAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra>, M
> Robbart - Coral reef restoration handbook, 2006 - books.google.com
> Today, coral reefs are under siege from a number of environmental
> pressures. Accordingly, the management of the world's coral reef resources
> is the subject of some controversy. 1 General agreement exists about the
> value of these ecosystems in terms of ecological, social, and aesthetic
> benefits. 2 There is also some agreement that an estimated 24% of reefs
> are in danger of collapse from human pressures3 and another 26% are under
> the threat of longer-term degradation and collapse. Admittedly, the numbers
> and percent devastation …
>
> On Wed, Jul 14, 2021 at 11:20 AM Elizabeth Sherman via Coral-List <
> coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:
>
>> Mike,
>> You say exactly what I have been saying (on this site--where I have been
>> shouted down--and others). I liken reef restoration projects to cleaning
>> out the coronary arteries of someone with heart disease. If you clean out
>> the arteries but the patient continues to smoke (or continues to pollute,
>> warm and acidify the reefs), you've just kicked the can down the road for
>> a
>> bit but haven't changed the outcome (i.e. dead patient, dead reefs). The
>> only way this might be a reasonable strategy (for both patient and reef)
>> is
>> if it buys a little more time so the patient can stop smoking. But in
>> spite
>> of 40 years of clamoring from the scientific community, reefs continue to
>> be degraded due to both local assaults and global assaults. So what is a
>> Jeremiah to do???
>>
>> On Wed, Jul 14, 2021 at 7:59 AM Risk, Michael via Coral-List <
>> coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:
>>
>> > I don't know what depresses me more, observing the trajectory of my
>> > favourite ecosystem, or watching earnest, committed young people
>> > wasting their time in futile ventures.
>> >
>> > The process rrreefs use, 3-D printing of modules, is very cool, very
>> > 21st century. (Personally, I have a ton of questions about this. What
>> > "clay?" Illite? Montmorillonite? Organics? Baked? Tests? Longevity?
>> etc
>> > etc-like, where's the science?.).
>> >
>> > But of course, we shouldn't need any of that. Many, many years ago, I
>> > built some reefs in Discovery Bay (Atoll Res Bull 255, 1981). Various
>> > iterations of concrete blocks, rubble, etc, to find the "best"
>> > configuration. The reefs were all covered with corals and other
>> > epizoans within a few months. All corals need is a surface to settle,
>> > and clean water.
>> >
>> > Before any reef rehab efforts are undertaken, anywhere, we must ask
>> > "why did they leave in the first place?" because if those stresses
>> are
>> > not rectified, any and all reef rehab efforts are costly wastes of
>> > time. In the vast majority of cases, the cause of the original
>> > extirpation will be some land-based threat. The one lesson we (I mean
>> > YOU) seem to forget is, if you clean up the water, they will come
>> back.
>> >
>> > Yeah, I know-same old same old.
>> >
>> > Mike
>> > __________________________________________________________________
>> >
>> > From: Coral-List <coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> on behalf
>> of
>> > Lisa Carne via Coral-List <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
>> > Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2021 6:57 PM
>> > To: Sarah Frias-Torres <sfrias_torres at hotmail.com>
>> > Cc: Hanna Kuhfuss <hanna.kuhfuss at gmail.com>; coral list
>> > <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
>> > Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Last 3 days to apply for upcoming - REEF
>> > BUILDING WORKSHOP
>> >
>> > Per Sarah's email:
>> > That `something else' is normally called artificial reefs.
>> > While it may have a role/function in certain places, it is not to be
>> > confused with ecosystem restoration.
>> > Also curious about the choice and source of `clay'
>> > Best from Belize,
>> > Lisa Carne
>> > > On 13-Jul-2021, at 16:32, Sarah Frias-Torres via Coral-List
>> > <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:
>> > >
>> > > Hanna
>> > > Just trying to understand more about the thinking process here.
>> > >
>> > > On the website, you have a statement on "Dive into the science",
>> > where you mention "scientific investigations" on this system of clay
>> > 3-D printed modules. Are there any published peer-reviewed scientific
>> > papers, that demonstrate these clay blocks you talk about are
>> achieving
>> > coral reef rehabilitation?
>> > > I could not find any links on the website, only a video and a
>> > crowdfunding page
>> > > Can you explain what you mean by rehabilitation? because this is
>> not
>> > coral reef restoration, but something else.
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > <><...<><...<><...
>> > >
>> > > Sarah Frias-Torres, Ph.D.
>> > > Twitter: @GrouperDoc
>> > > Science Blog: [1]https://grouperluna.com/
>> > > Art Blog: [2]https://oceanbestiary.com/
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > ________________________________
>> > > From: Coral-List <coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> on
>> behalf
>> > of Hanna Kuhfuss via Coral-List <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
>> > > Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2021 5:16 AM
>> > > To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>> >
>> > > Subject: [Coral-List] Last 3 days to apply for upcoming - REEF
>> > BUILDING WORKSHOP
>> > >
>> > > *Last 3 days to apply for upcoming* - *REEF BUILDING WORKSHOP -
>> > LIVING
>> > > SHORELINES: Green Engineering Methods for Coral Reef
>> Rehabilitation*
>> > >
>> > > *10 - 20 Sep 2021*
>> > >
>> > > Registration deadline: *15th of July 2021*
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Hi coral-listers,
>> > >
>> > > *Registration for the workshop is open for only 3 more days.*
>> Please
>> > feel
>> > > free to spread it to anyone who might be interested.
>> > >
>> > > We, rrreefs <[3]https://www.rrreefs.com/> (a german/swiss not for
>> > profit
>> > > initiative) are excited to announce *our first-ever *international
>> > > *reef-building
>> > > workshop *in partnership with Corales de Paz
>> > <[4]https://www.coralesdepaz.org/>
>> > > , taking place *this September* in *San Andres, Colombia*.
>> > >
>> > > This goes out to everyone interested in joining us in building the
>> > first
>> > > pilot reef with rrreefs' easy-to-handle 3D-printed stackable brick
>> > system.
>> > > It is a *10-day intensive full-time 100 hours hands-on, and
>> in-water
>> > > practical workshop* (incl. 14 SCUBA dives). The workshop touches on
>> > coral
>> > > ecology, newest approaches to coral restoration and ecosystem
>> > > rehabilitation, appropriate design, logistics, and evaluation of a
>> > > restoration project. We will showcase the feasibility of
>> construction
>> > and
>> > > customization, with a subsequent multi-year monitoring program.
>> This
>> > new
>> > > approach of passive, structure-based reef regeneration will be
>> > combined
>> > > with proven active reef restoration approaches such as coral
>> > fragmentation,
>> > > gardening, and transplantation techniques perfected by Corales de
>> > Paz.
>> > >
>> > > The program will be divided into a series of classroom lessons and
>> > field
>> > > activities. Lessons will be held in English. All in-water field
>> > activities
>> > > will be carried out with SCUBA diving equipment.
>> > >
>> > > To download the full program for more details, costs, and other
>> > practical
>> > > information, please check out the Workshop brochure and flyer or
>> > visit our
>> > > homepage rrreefs.com <[5]https://www.rrreefs.com/>
>> > >
>> > > For any additional information, feel free to send an email to
>> > > info at rrreefs.com
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Cheers,
>> > >
>> > > your rrreefs team
>> > >
>> > > Hanna Kuhfuss
>> > >
>> > > Marie Griesmar
>> > >
>> > > Ulrike Pfreundt
>> > >
>> > > --
>> > > *HANNA KUHFUSS*
>> > >
>> > > *Co-Founder at rrreefs (NGO)*
>> > > rethinking-rebuilding-regenerating coral reefs
>> > >
>> > > www.rrreefs.com<[6]http://www.rrreefs.com>
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > *Geschaeftsfuehrerin/Gruenderin Aerialnauten *
>> > >
>> > > *by Schwerelos Yoga Freiburg*
>> > >
>> > > *Aerial Yoga Studio, Yoga Therapie & Training*
>> > > *mail schwerelosyoga.freiburg at gmail.com
>> > <schwerelosyoga.freiburg at gmail.com>*
>> > > *mobile* (+49) 177 3454 952
>> > > [7]www.schwerelos-yoga.de<http://www.schwerelos-yoga.de>
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > > Coral-List mailing list
>> > > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>> > > [8]https://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > > Coral-List mailing list
>> > > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>> > > [9]https://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Coral-List mailing list
>> > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>> > [10]https://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>> >
>> > References
>> >
>> > 1. https://grouperluna.com/
>> > 2. https://oceanbestiary.com/
>> > 3. https://www.rrreefs.com/
>> > 4. https://www.coralesdepaz.org/
>> > 5. https://www.rrreefs.com/
>> > 6. http://www.rrreefs.com/
>> > 7. http://www.schwerelos-yoga.de<http://www.schwerelos-yoga.de
>> > 8. https://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>> > 9. https://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>> > 10. https://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Coral-List mailing list
>> > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>> > https://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> Elizabeth Sherman, Ph.D.
>> Professor of Biology, *Emerita*
>> Bennington College
>>
>>
>> *As coral reefs go, so goes the planet.*
>> _______________________________________________
>> Coral-List mailing list
>> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>> https://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
>>
>
>
> --
> William F. Precht
>
> “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice
> you have”
>
> Bob Marley
>
>
> "Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you
> don't have the strength."
>
> Theodore Roosevelt
>
>
>
--
*HANNA KUHFUSS*
*Co-Founder at rrreefs (NGO)*
rethinking-rebuilding-regenerating coral reefs
www.rrreefs.com
*Geschäftsführerin/Gründerin Aerialnauten *
*by Schwerelos Yoga Freiburg*
*Aerial Yoga Studio, Yoga Therapie & Training*
*mail schwerelosyoga.freiburg at gmail.com <schwerelosyoga.freiburg at gmail.com>*
*mobile* (+49) 177 3454 952
www.schwerelos-yoga.de
More information about the Coral-List
mailing list