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Hi there!I am Elena, documenting from Barbados. I'm writing to you today to tell you about a recent programme I participated in. I found it interesting, so I wanted to share my experience with you and hopefully inspire you to go and try out different initiatives in your local environment. But first, I'd like to introduce you to Barbados Blue, a dive organization here in beautiful Barbados. Just recently, Barbados Blue invited a group of us to participate and learn from a coral restoration programme, ask any questions to the contributors, and possibly return for future collaborations and projects.I thought, "This sounds AMAZING!" Especially knowing how severely our human behaviour, such as the climate crisis, affects our world's coral reefs. Recent studies by the Coral Reef Crisis Guide indicate that we have destroyed approximately 50% of the coral reefs on Earth. If we don't correct our activity and consumption as a people in the next 30 years, we could lose at least 40% more. This would be detrimental to our world because coral reefs provide coastal protection for communities, habitat for fish, and millions of dollars in recreation and tourism, among other benefits. It's for these reasons that we decided to participate in this fantastic opportunity.&nbsp;Once we arrived, we first got to learn about the project's origins and a brief overview of the coral protection and restoration process, which was given to us by André Miller, a marine biologist here in Barbados. We learnt that the event of coral bleaching was first noticed by people in the late 1980s. In essence, coral bleaching happens when corals lose their vibrant colour and turn white. This change is usually due to temperature, light, nutrients, or lack thereof. Still, the leading cause of coral bleaching is climate change.&nbsp;Because of these changes, many coral reefs are struggling not only in Barbados but worldwide. Since this problem is significant, we solve it by breaking it down, which is why Barbados Blue decided to create this programme for a specific species of coral known as staghorn coral. (We call it this due to its resemblance to an antler. ;)&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/diproinduca-prod-bucket-fb24935ae53a2458/contest/Coral_restoration_c71b92eba1/Coral_restoration_c71b92eba1.jpg"><figcaption>Andre from Barbados Blue explains the coral restoration</figcaption></figure> &nbsp;I got the opportunity to interview Keira, something I learned for the first time that I found very interesting is that the hard part of the coral is actually its skeleton, the colourful exterior is the tissue, and the living organisms on the inside, called polyps, are the animal. Staghorn coral, specifically, is a keystone species, which is a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend. If it were removed, the ecosystem would change drastically.Something else that often happens with the staghorn coral is that people mistake its white tips for coral bleaching, but it's actually a lot more interesting than that. These white tips, called apicoles, are thanks to the damsel fish, which farms its algae on the staghorn, causing the apicoles to turn white.&nbsp;Even more interesting is the process of protecting the precious staghorn coral. The process goes like this;<ol><li>First, living or dead staghorn corals found naturally in the ocean are located and marked off for future uses. Living is ideal, but if there are living remnants of the dead coral, these also work. Knowing what we know about the anatomy of the coral, even if the coral is bleached, or in other words, the tissue, the animal inside may still be alive and preservable.&nbsp; &nbsp;</li><li>Next, these pieces are collected and relocated to a staghorn coral nursery. Currently, there are two staghorn coral nurseries in Barbados. These coral nurseries have specially designed A-frames structures to grow these living pieces. These A-frames are covered in a special resin that will protect them from the surrounding natural habitat, and therefore, they will last longer. Regardless, after a while, these A-frames do need to be checked regularly for breakage, and when they falter, they must replace them. &nbsp;</li><li>After being zip-tied to the A-frames, these pieces are given however long they need to regain enough strength to be reintegrated into the environment. (Oh, and don't worry about those zip-ties; they're biodegradable, I asked ;) The coral can reject any of these foreign materials introduced, but this hasn't happened to Barbados Blue, thankfully :) &nbsp;</li><li>This period of growth on the A-frame will usually take about a month. Once that process finish, divers will find a rock in the protected coral area and place a nail. The coral is then zip-tied to the nail, and voila! It can begin to regrow!</li></ol><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:331px;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/DEvl_kfmxrUP8PdcBCC__C3ZGDwzXXNEyinGNv-VOd1_tJnBLoF8F5k9lVBaY7yHC7ttpAD2qHKmMbFz0OX-ZY7OctCh-tJk0p0-2hwgSeHCQW5grqzWM4JUhPCVKfvDpYBm5ak3xiJZlGa3oWHx0MYNYis_ElDx0xIzIGowU3cd0A_HVcNUy6BU"></figure> &nbsp;This entire process is creating a 'hybrid coral' since it is a combination of the frames and nails that grows on and the actual coral.Placing the coral within the protected areas is vital because there are many everyday activities that the public is not allowed to do in these areas. For example, fishing and other boating activities have caused this coral species to become endangered in Barbados. Even simply mooring your boat will be dangerous due to anchor damage. Other factors, such as uninformed or untrained divers and predatory species, can affect the coral. An example of a species that attacks staghorn coral is fire coral, a type of coral that acts as a blanket and covers other species of coral. Even sometimes, storms and currents can affect the spread of the population since the coral can be resilient to these natural occurrences, but it is still fragile. The storms and currents can also unmount zip-ties and nails set up for the still-growing pieces in the nursery.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized image-style-align-center" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/diproinduca-prod-bucket-fb24935ae53a2458/contest/GH_010129_00_00_17_44_Imagen_fija001_7e409abf1b/GH_010129_00_00_17_44_Imagen_fija001_7e409abf1b.jpg"><figcaption>Barbados Blue in action</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;Every month, divers visit the nurseries to check on the coral and how much it has grown. This growth is measured using a half-square meter frame. The frame is held just over the coral, not laid on it, because it could cause damage, and the branches are measured to estimate how much it has grown.&nbsp;WOW. That was a lot of information. And can you believe that all this has happened in the four years since they started the project? It was an honour to be able to see these talented environmentalists at work and for them to take the time out of their day to educate us. If you are interested in learning more about this project, Barbados Blue, or coral restoration in general, feel free to contact or visit <a href="https://www.divebarbadosblue.com/">https://www.divebarbadosblue.com/</a>&nbsp; &nbsp;

The Barbados Blue coral restoration program is something to share. So here is a story from one of our planet ambassadors  Elena Salazar that hopefully inspires you to go and try out different initiatives in your local environment.

The coral restoration programme by Barbados Blue

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Let's keep oceans sweet! No, not sweet like candy but looking and feeling sweet, clean, and awesome for generations to come. How? Well, one of the targets from the UN Sustainable Goal 14, "Life Under Water," focuses on minimizing and addressing the impacts of ocean acidification.&nbsp;<h1>What is Ocean Acidification?&nbsp;</h1>According to NASA, Ocean acidification is a change in the properties of ocean water that can be harmful to plants and animals.Ocean acidification happens when the water quality is compromised due to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Our oceans are like giant sponges that work hard cleaning and purifying our air. However, sometimes our air is saturated with carbon dioxide (Co2), making it harder for the oceans to clean and air and remain unchanged. When this happens, and the ocean becomes acidic, the water is no longer safe to sustain life or proposes a danger to its organisms.&nbsp;<h1>Why is Acidic Water Unsafe for Organisms</h1>Different organisms thrive in different environments. We now know life can happen even in the most hospitable places like the very bottom of the deep ocean. However, drastic changes in the ecosystem can negatively affect the flora and fauna that live there.&nbsp;An <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid">acid</a> is any substance that, when combined with water, can cause chemical reactions when they touch metal, rocks, coral, or other surfaces. The chemical reactions are known for eating away at, dissolving, or damaging other substances. For example, lemon juice and vinegar have acids in them. The acid in lime juice is what makes it taste sour. Lime juice is used in some cultures to 'cook' food, like ceviche. This process of cooking with the acid of the lime is called "denaturation of proteins."Likewise, acids can also break down the shells of animals that live under the sea. When ocean water has become more acidic, some animals — like oysters and clams — struggle to make or keep their shells.Acidic ocean water can also damage coral by slowing down its growth process or weaken the existing coral reefs. Coral reefs are essential, as they serve as the home for many plants and animals. Thus, coral reef's health is vital to many ecosystems.<h1>How Do You Know if the Water is Acidic?</h1>The acidity level of a substance can be measured using the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/ph-scale-0">pH scale</a>. The pH scale range goes from 0 - 14, with 7 being neutral. Anything with a pH higher than 7 is called a <a href="https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/references/acids-bases-the-ph-scale">base</a>.How do everyday substances measure on the pH scale?&nbsp;<ul><li>0: Battery Acid</li><li>1: Stomach Acid</li><li>2: Vinegar</li><li>3: Orange Juice</li><li>4: Tomato Juice</li><li>5: Coffee</li><li>6: Milk</li><li>7: Pure Water</li><li>8: Ocean Water&nbsp;</li><li>9: Toothpaste</li><li>10: Mild detergent</li><li>11: Window cleaner</li><li>12: Hair straighteners</li><li>13: Bleach</li><li>14: Drain Cleaner</li></ul><h1>How Can We Reduce Ocean Acidification?</h1>Since carbon dioxide is the main culprit to ocean acidification, the best way to prevent it is by reducing our carbon footprint. Each of us leaves a carbon footprint; This is determined by the amount of meat we consume, the amount of miles we travel by car or air, and how much waste we produce.&nbsp;Every little action can help, so a few small changes at home can have a significant impact on the health of our oceans, start by:<ul><li>Eating less meat: Meatless Mondays are a fun way to introduce less meat into your diet. There are many easy and delicious plant-based meals you can try every Monday.&nbsp;</li><li>Use less energy at home: yes! Your parents are right! Make sure you turn off light bulbs and electronics when you are not using them.&nbsp;</li><li>Conserve water: Take shorter and colder showers and be conscious about the amount of water you use at home to water your plants, brush your teeth, or do the dishes.&nbsp;</li><li>Reduce single-use plastic consumption: By using reusable water bottles and taking your own reusable containers to the restaurants for leftovers.&nbsp;</li><li>Educate everyone about the dangers of ocean acidification and how to prevent it from happening.&nbsp;</li></ul>&nbsp;

Our oceans are like giant sponges that work hard cleaning and purifying our air.

Keep the Oceans Sweet

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Thinking Cap On:&nbsp;Do some research about the impact of ocean acidification, focusing on a specific part of the ocean/world. Once you have gathered all your info, make a short PowerPoint presentation or video and present it to your family and friends. Even better, ask your biology teacher if you can present it at school to spread the word about the impact of carbon footprint in the world's oceans.&nbsp;Invite people to donate to one of the organizations below or to make small changes in their lives to prevent ocean acidification from happening. &nbsp;Below are a few organizations working on studying the ocean and marine life and preventing ocean acidification from further damaging our underwater ecosystems.&nbsp;<ol><li><a href="https://www.aims.gov.au/docs/research/research.html">Australian Institute of Marine Sciences</a></li><li><a href="http://www.earth-policy.org/">Earth Policy Institute</a></li><li><a href="http://www.fao.org/">Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</a></li><li><a href="http://www.healthebay.org/">Heal the Bay</a></li><li><a href="http://www.ienearth.org/">Indigenous Environmental Network</a></li><li><a href="http://www.iucn.org/">International Conservation Union</a></li><li><a href="http://oceana.org/en">Oceana</a></li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/OceanArkAlliance/">Ocean Ark Alliance</a></li><li><a href="http://theoceanproject.org/">The Ocean Project</a></li><li><a href="https://www.oceanicsociety.org/our-work/plastic-pollution/">Oceanic Society</a></li></ol>

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Water is life. Without water, planet earth wouldn't be what it is today. From the highest mountains to the deep blue seas, we are all connected through water. Oceans cover three-quarters of the Earth's surface and contain 97 per cent of the Earth's water, representing 99 per cent of the living space on the planet by volume. But it doesn't stop there; the ocean produces over half of the world's oxygen and absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere, buffering the impacts of global warming.Due to its magnificence and rich flora and fauna diversity, it is crucial that we, humanity, take care of oceans a little bit better than we have done over the last hundred years.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h1>Plastic World&nbsp;</h1>According to Surfers Against Sewage, studies show approximately 5.25 trillion macro and micro pieces of plastic are in our oceans today, with 46,000 pieces in every square mile of the sea, weighing up to 269,000 tones. Thus, the environmental impact of our love affair with plastic is having a profound, long-lasting effect on our oceanic ecosystems.&nbsp;Did you know a plastic bottle can last up to 450 years in the marine environment, slowly fragmenting into smaller and smaller pieces? Eventually, these pieces might become smaller pieces known as microplastics. These microplastics are then ingested by marine animals and often end up on your dinner plate, with 1 in 3 fish caught for human consumption now containing plastic.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thankfully many young scientists and inventors have developed unique, sustainable solutions to the plastic problem.&nbsp;One of them is Dutch inventor Boyan Slat, who designed the Ocean Cleanup Array at age 16. The device was created to tackle ocean plastic pollution on a large scale. It implements a network of floating barriers that use the ocean's currents to collect vast amounts of plastic, which can then be easily extracted and recycled. The design has been the world's first cleanup systems to be trialed and utilized in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.&nbsp;Another similar invention was designed by Richard Hardiman, known as Waste Shark. This consists of a small robotic device that 'swims' close to the shore catching waste just before it can make its way out to sea. The Waste Shark has a mouth that extends a foot below the water and can catch up to 1,100 pounds of waste before returning to land to be emptied. WasteShark was launched in March 2019 by WWF and Sky at Ilfracombe Harbour in Devon, UK.Lastly, the Seabin, designed for use in marinas, yacht clubs and harbors, contains an automated garbage bin that catches floating waste, oil, fuel and detergents. Founders Andrew Turton and Pete Ceglinski created the Seabin to work using the water's natural currents to draw plastic waste towards it. The Seabin also uses a special pump to clean water from oils or detergents before releasing clean water back into the ocean.These inventions, although amazing, don't solve the root of the problem. Humans over-consuming and dumping waste into the oceans. Without planning and conscious consumption, we will soon be overwhelmed by plastic, affecting our oceans and the marine ecosystems as we know them today.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h1>The Great Pacific Garbage Patch</h1>The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean. It is 1.6 million square kilometres, which is an area twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France.Charles Moore, the oceanographer who discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, has predicted that it will double in size in the next ten years if we don't change our ways.&nbsp;We can still turn this around, but we need to act soon and in more than one way.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h1>We Can Still Save the Planet</h1>Ocean cleaning devices, paired with commercially available bioplastics and a general conscientious way of living, can still save the oceans. But it needs to start at home; small changes can have a significant impact on the ecosystem. You can also help by:&nbsp;<ul><li>Not using single-use plastics. That includes plastic bottles, straws, to-go plastic containers and plastic cutlery. Instead, opt for reusable water bottles, reusable metal straws, reusable bamboo, metal or glass containers.&nbsp;</li><li>Bring your own cup instead of using to-go coffee or soda plastic cups.&nbsp;</li><li>Use reusable tote bags when you go to the supermarket.</li><li>When buying new products, do some research about the quality of the product and the packaging. Is it recyclable? Is it compostable? Is it plant-based?&nbsp;</li></ul>Every little thing you can do can help. Educate others about the impacts of our lifestyles and its at-risk, and together we can save our oceans.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Water is life. Without water, planet earth wouldn't be what it is today. From the highest mountains to the deep blue seas, we are all connected through water.

Ocean Friendly: How to Keep Oceans Plastic Free 

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Thinking Caps On:&nbsp;How can we stop the problem from becoming a problem in the first place? Can you think of any alternative solutions to plastic? Many new studies have devised plastic alternatives known as Bioplastics.&nbsp;Bioplastics are made from various natural sources, primarily plant-based, such as corn, mushroom root and seaweed. How can we make these more commercially available to the general public? Can you think of a way to advertise/communicate to people in your community about the existence and usability of bioplastics? Perhaps make a short movie, a comic strip or a game to educate people around you.&nbsp;

Life Below Water

The coral restoration programme by Barbados Blue

Keep the Oceans Sweet

Ocean Friendly: How to Keep Oceans Plastic Free