Coral conservation. Combat the source not the symptoms
Many projects are rolled out to help recovering the dead or bleached coral and repopulate the reefs with the newcomers which are more resistant to heat and acid waters.
Some solutions endorse replanting of coral other focus on hunting and killing the Crown of Thorns starfish[1] others look for more adaptabile spieces of coral that could replace the dead corals. Though the main circulated source, among researchers, what cause death of corals are bleaching. During bleaching the coral will expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues causing the coral to turn completely white[2].
Some solutions endorse replanting of coral other focus on hunting and killing the Crown of Thorns starfish[1] others look for more adaptabile spieces of coral that could replace the dead corals. Though the main circulated source, among researchers, what cause death of corals are bleaching. During bleaching the coral will expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues causing the coral to turn completely white[2].
As the algae contribute to 90% of their food the result of bleaching event is starvation to death without the symbiosis of the algae. Another reason is acidic water. As seawater gets more acidic with more carbon dioxide dissolved in it, these creatures might have a harder time making their skeletons and shells[3]. Of course the main reason why bleaching occur is increased water temperature which absorb the heat from greenhouse effect caused by global warming. The pillars of global worming is CO2, CH4 and N2O emission from the biggest polluter of energy sector followed by industry, transportation and agriculture. Clogged by the ignorance, comfortableness and rejection of facts these projects of coral conservation are sentenced to fail. To see all these attempts to replant coral is like to plant in a nearly arid place a fragile tree, a place that soon will became a desert where the vulnerable tree don't have any chance att all to survive. As global warming don't intend to stop at any time soon the same water temperature will not stop to bleach the corals and acidity will not stop to dissolve the skeletons which will close the circle and force the coral reefs to finish their important role in the marine life ecosystem.
The tourism and business interests look for enriching their pockets leaving behind void space and damaged environment. Some diving center like Juara Scuba Academy on Tioman island that claim to engage in coral conservation for saving corals, though proudly tell how they hunt in the nights fish and crabs in the marine park to satisfy their guts though fishing is forbidden by law. There is little moral and even less logic behind their deeds against their own philosophy. But the idea of coral conservation sound innovative and utterly inoffensive, why not to use it to attract clients and donations, right?
Large-scale coral bleaching events used to occur every 27 years, notes Australia’s independent climate-communication organization the Climate Council in a report on the reef published in July. The current rate is once every six years. If climate change is not curtailed, the report advises, by the 2030s the Great Barrier Reef could experience mass coral bleaching every two years. By 2050, says the National Academies report, most of the world’s reefs will be exposed to bleaching conditions annually[5].
Even marine biologist David Suggett says that plan A is to reduce emissions, solve climate change and take away the threat to reefs. But we have to prepare for the possibility of Plan F—dealing with global reef meltdown.
[4]The best way to have at least a chance for coral reef to survive will require to focus on the source of the rising water temperature. First of all to change energy production based on emission to green and renewable technology and every person on the individual level could make a huge favor to environment by accelerating green transition with solar power, wind generators, rational distribution, smart grid implementation, reducing electricity consumption and choosing the sustainable and renewable energy from the local electricity provider. Second industry sector should bare the responsibility for collecting their own emissions or change the production process to meet and recoup the sustainability criteria. Even as a part of strategy to offload the energy sector the industry should look for their own generation of green energy and get partly self sufficient to ensure fewer power outage that will disturb their production line. Third is transportation, the goal is to use more emission free vehicles, public transport, bicycles or just walk. Fourth agriculture and land use stands for almost 23% of emission and should take a bigger part of burden with increasing tax on animal products, subsidizing plant based commodities but not in the case when it's used for animal production. For example a farmer who is growing soy bean should not benefit from subsidies if he sells the crops to an animal production enterprise. Sell and buy commodities should be based on smart contracts and blockchain technology which will reduce vastly the administration costs, corruption and tax evasion. And last and not less important is investing in reforestation and recovery management of eroded or endangered places and habitat.
We need our planet because is the only one we have, escape to other planet is not available and if we continue to destroy everything around then one thing wait us, the game over and end.
The tourism and business interests look for enriching their pockets leaving behind void space and damaged environment. Some diving center like Juara Scuba Academy on Tioman island that claim to engage in coral conservation for saving corals, though proudly tell how they hunt in the nights fish and crabs in the marine park to satisfy their guts though fishing is forbidden by law. There is little moral and even less logic behind their deeds against their own philosophy. But the idea of coral conservation sound innovative and utterly inoffensive, why not to use it to attract clients and donations, right?
The future is bleached
The future holds even more challenges. By 2050, scientists predict that 86 percent of the world’s ocean will be warmer and more acidic than anything in modern history. By 2100, the pH of the surface ocean could drop to under 7.8, or more than 150 percent compared to today’s already-corrosive state[4].
Large-scale coral bleaching events used to occur every 27 years, notes Australia’s independent climate-communication organization the Climate Council in a report on the reef published in July. The current rate is once every six years. If climate change is not curtailed, the report advises, by the 2030s the Great Barrier Reef could experience mass coral bleaching every two years. By 2050, says the National Academies report, most of the world’s reefs will be exposed to bleaching conditions annually[5].
Even marine biologist David Suggett says that plan A is to reduce emissions, solve climate change and take away the threat to reefs. But we have to prepare for the possibility of Plan F—dealing with global reef meltdown.
Focus on source not on symptoms
[4]The best way to have at least a chance for coral reef to survive will require to focus on the source of the rising water temperature. First of all to change energy production based on emission to green and renewable technology and every person on the individual level could make a huge favor to environment by accelerating green transition with solar power, wind generators, rational distribution, smart grid implementation, reducing electricity consumption and choosing the sustainable and renewable energy from the local electricity provider. Second industry sector should bare the responsibility for collecting their own emissions or change the production process to meet and recoup the sustainability criteria. Even as a part of strategy to offload the energy sector the industry should look for their own generation of green energy and get partly self sufficient to ensure fewer power outage that will disturb their production line. Third is transportation, the goal is to use more emission free vehicles, public transport, bicycles or just walk. Fourth agriculture and land use stands for almost 23% of emission and should take a bigger part of burden with increasing tax on animal products, subsidizing plant based commodities but not in the case when it's used for animal production. For example a farmer who is growing soy bean should not benefit from subsidies if he sells the crops to an animal production enterprise. Sell and buy commodities should be based on smart contracts and blockchain technology which will reduce vastly the administration costs, corruption and tax evasion. And last and not less important is investing in reforestation and recovery management of eroded or endangered places and habitat.We need our planet because is the only one we have, escape to other planet is not available and if we continue to destroy everything around then one thing wait us, the game over and end.
Juara, Malaysia | September 25, 2019
Juara, Malaysia | September 25, 2019
Source
[1]. https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/jom/2018/06/377398/go-help-save-tioman-reefs - GO: Help save the Tioman reefs
[2]. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html - What is coral bleaching?
[3]. https://www.windows2universe.org/earth/climate/coral2.html - Coral Reef in Acidic Water
[4]. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/oceans/critical-issues-ocean-acidification/ - Ocean acidification, explained
[4]. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/11/great-barrier-reef-restoration-transplanting-corals/ - CAN NEW SCIENCE SAVE DYING CORAL REEFS?
[1]. https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/jom/2018/06/377398/go-help-save-tioman-reefs - GO: Help save the Tioman reefs
[2]. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html - What is coral bleaching?
[3]. https://www.windows2universe.org/earth/climate/coral2.html - Coral Reef in Acidic Water
[4]. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/oceans/critical-issues-ocean-acidification/ - Ocean acidification, explained
[4]. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/11/great-barrier-reef-restoration-transplanting-corals/ - CAN NEW SCIENCE SAVE DYING CORAL REEFS?
Pictures and photos
[1]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_mitigation#/media/File:Greenhouse_gas_by_sector_2000.svg - Climate change mitigation
[2]. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html - What is coral bleaching?
[3]. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/20/worst-global-coral-bleaching-event-eases-as-experts-await-next-one - Worst global coral bleaching event eases, as expert wait next one
[4]. https://myfavouritesinart.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/pawel-kuczynski/artwork-satire-cartoonist-pawel-kuczynski-polish-26/ - ARTWORK-SATIRE-CARTOONIST-PAWEL-KUCZYNSKI-POLISH-26
[1]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_mitigation#/media/File:Greenhouse_gas_by_sector_2000.svg - Climate change mitigation
[2]. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html - What is coral bleaching? [3]. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/20/worst-global-coral-bleaching-event-eases-as-experts-await-next-one - Worst global coral bleaching event eases, as expert wait next one [4]. https://myfavouritesinart.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/pawel-kuczynski/artwork-satire-cartoonist-pawel-kuczynski-polish-26/ - ARTWORK-SATIRE-CARTOONIST-PAWEL-KUCZYNSKI-POLISH-26
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