The coral renunciation is reborn from its own ashes: here’s how a million new corals were planted

Rinascere from one’s own « ashes » is possible. And to prove it, this time, are the coral regenerated barriers thanks to the coral fragments taken from the Deteriorat seabedthe. A process of Reclamation and restoration. But above all one Corsa against time To save from the threat of climate change, one of the most important ecosystems that populate the expanse of salted water of our planet.

All this is told in the documentary Reef builders, Presented on Monday evening at the Anteo in Milan: a set of images both underwater and terrestrial showing daily challenges, innovative solutions and the hope of those who work to protect the biodiversity of the seas. Marine biologists, volunteers, but also fishermen and simple citizens have taken part in the program Sheba Hope GroWs: one of the largest projects to restore coral reefs in the world, led by Mars Sustainable Solutions, Initiative of the US multinational in the agri -food sector Marsto which the Sheba brand belongs.

The film, streaming on Prime Video, begins with the story of the rescue of the Hope Reef in Indonesia. A coral reef, who before the arrival of the experts in 2021 was now completely destroyed. But then the intervention of the marine biologist David Smith and the radical change. With a simple, yet functional intuition, the team led by the professor managed to save the life (not only marina) of Bontosua village: the installation on the seabed of steel structures called Reef Star. «Skeletons» in the shape of spider with six legsto whom the experts have linked the « Herry of healthy coral», Identified and collected previously by those waters. And here in less than four weeks the fragments not only settled around the structures, but even multiplied. A reproduction, which over time led to the creation of a large colored barrier, in which many animal species have returned to swim. A vast set of coral that composes the writing from which it takes the name « Hope », or hope.

And it is precisely this feeling that pushed the project, after the success experiment, that replicates in other waters. First in those who bathe the village of Lamu in Kenyathen of Moore Reef in Australia and finally of Oahu to Hawaii. But « this is only the beginning » – he explains Aldo MastelloneCorporate Affairs Senior Manager of Mars Italia -. Reef Builders It tells not only the environmental restoration, but a concrete vision of the future that we intend to contribute to building. What is striking in the documentary is the participation of local communities At the initiative: at first many citizens, almost for fun, helped experts. But when the awareness of the importance of what they were doing have matured in them they started to feel it really ».

And with great benefits also in economic terms. « Saving coral reefs also is equivalent to improving the life of these small villages – Mastellone still underlines – whose existence and economy revolves around the sea. The future goal is to inspire and educate an increasing number of people on the importance of supporting the restoration of coral reefs and perhaps making them autonomous in doing it ». At the moment they were planted over a million coralsready to duplicate.