Reef Life is working with the island nation of St Maarten to increase conservation awareness by combining nanoscience & art. We're raising funds to deploy turtle-shaped IntelliReefs coral gardens as part of an educational outreach program for Hawksbill sea turtles. Hawksbills are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN & rely on coral reefs for shelter and food. A percentage of funds raised will be donated to the Nature Foundation SXM to support sea turtle monitoring & educational programs.
Large-scale coral reef destruction harms endangered marine life and severely affects island businesses and communities that rely on healthy oceans to survive. Hawksbill sea turtles are having their home and food source degraded below the water line and their nests tampered with on land. Additionally, local island populations are often not afforded the same marine educational experiences as international tourists, creating a disconnect between local populations and ocean ecosystems.
Within months, IntelliReefs provide critical homes for biodiverse marine plants and animals, supporting diverse ponge growth for Hawksbill sea turtles, increased fish aggregation, and natural coral settlement. The Nature Foundation issued a permit for large-scale IntelliReefs sculptures shaped like Hawksbill sea turtles. Reef Life works with the Nature Foundation to increase environmental justice through the local education initiatives, particularly the ongoing education of women and girls.
IntelliReefs nanotech coral gardens generate critical revenue & jobs for island and coastal communities, while protecting and enhancing the local marine habitat. Because IntelliReefs can be scaled up to any size and shape, eco-tourist businesses recognize it's potential to cultivate economic & diverse biological growth. Long-term goals include building square kilometers of IntelliReefs world-wide, encouraging ocean conservation through collaborative research, and community education.
