CLIMATE CHANGE
Maldives coral propagation restores global warming wipeout
More than 90% of the coral that makes the Maldives such a magnet for tourists died in the past year in the quiet decimation of global warming
More than 90% of the coral that makes the Maldives such a magnet for tourists died in the past year in the quiet decimation of global warming. Bleached and broken coral now lies on the bed of the Indian Ocean in the beautifully clear but lethally warm water. It is a global crisis, with parts of Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef also heavily damaged. "Last year [2016] was one of the worst bleaching events on record," says Dr Camilla Floros, a scientist on the Reef Biodiversity Programme run by the Oceanographic Research Institute in Durban. In the Maldives, marine biologists from marine consultancy Seamarc are working to reverse the damage with an innovative method of coral propagation. Tourists can lend a hand by physically helping with the work or by sponsoring a patch of regenerated coral reef. These ocean experts are working with Club Med Kani, a resort where social responsibility and sustainable tourism is as much a part of the ethos as pina coladas and party nights. Marine ...
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