Coral reefs are a key species when protecting ocean ecosystems. Over 25% of ocean live call call coral reefs home. Half of the world's coral reefs have been damaged or destroyed by bleaching.
In a nut shell, coral reef bleaching means :
"When corals are stressed by changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or nutrients, they expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white."https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html
Vulcan, Arizona State University, Planet,National Geographic Society, and the University of Queensland in Australia created Allen Coral Atlas, the first global map of coral reefs and the stresses that are damaging them. The project was funded by Peter Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, before he passed away. He donated millions of dollars and employee hours through his company, Vulcan.
"The atlas, which is free to the public, is already being used by countries around the globe. The Solomon and Fiji islands are using the tool for developing marine protected areas, while the Bahamas are using it to select the best areas for coral reef restoration where they “outplant” coral that has been grown in a nursery."
Local and state governments, and non-profits are already utilizing the atlas to help them monitor their regional waters and create plans to help protect them.
Read the article from GeekWire via MSN : https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/paul-allen-backed-effort-completes-groundbreaking-atlas-of-earth-e2-80-99s-coral-reefs-to-aid-conservation/ar-AAOerfe
Learn more about coral bleaching : What is coral bleaching?https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html
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Dolphin Project is a non-profit charitable organization, dedicated to the welfare and protection of dolphins worldwide. Founded by Richard (Ric) O’Barry on Earth Day, April 22, 1970, the organization aims to educate the public about captivity and, where feasible, retire and/or release captive dolphins.
The mission of Dolphin Project is to end dolphin exploitation and slaughter, as dolphins are routinely captured, harassed, slaughtered and sold into captivity around the world – all in the name of profit. Dolphin Project works not only to halt these slaughters, but also to rehabilitate captive dolphins for retirement and/or release, investigate and advocate for economic alternatives to dolphin slaughter, and to put a permanent end to dolphin captivity.
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