Huawei Mauritius, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and EcoMode Society today announced a new phase of the Tech4Nature Mauritius project to study species’ reproductive success in a restored area of reef in Mauritius.
The new phase directly follows a key project milestone
achieved in June in which the partners, supported by the local community,
successfully transplanted 25,000 coral fragments cultivated in coral nurseries
to a degraded area of the reef ecosystem in Pointe-aux-Feuilles, a 20-km2 site
off the east coast of Mauritius. This project is one of the first its type in
the Western Indian Ocean.
“I commend the achievement of the Tech4Nature initiative.
Our objective is that by 2030, we can work together for a healthy ocean that
supports nature and people,” said the Honorable Sudheer Maudhoo, Minister of
Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping for Mauritius. “With the
support of the Tech4Nature initiative, Huawei, and its partners, we look
forward to continued action to restore ocean and coastal biodiversity for
future generations.”
To monitor the mobility of species at the coral reef
restoration site and determine the factors that disturb reproductive success, a
solution comprising cameras and GPS receivers, 4G, and cloud has been deployed.
The second phase of the project will use AI-based data analysis to guide the
conservation decisions, support the research of marine biologists, and educate
the public on the importance of reef conservation and restoration.
“The project will help us to have more information to manage
and regulate public use,” said Nadeem Nazurally, President of the EcoMode
Society. “It will also bring biodiversity conservation closer to the general
public, as videos and other dissemination materials are planned through the
mobile app. In collaboration with IUCN and Huawei, the project allows us to
make a qualitative leap by incorporating new technologies to the monitoring and
conservation of species.”
The 243-km2 lagoon created by the 150-km reef system of
fringing coral is home to a rich array of aquatic life, including 61 species of
macroalgae, 110 species of corals, 132 species of fish, and many endemic
species. However, the reef system faces many threats, including overfishing,
pollution, and changing seawater composition due to the removal of mangroves
and seagrass. Climate change has caused a rise in sea levels, more extreme
storms, and increased sea temperatures. Restoration efforts for coral reefs can
boost resilience against climate change by protecting coastal regions against
erosion and mitigate rising sea levels.
As a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), Mauritius relies
heavily on its coral reef resources, especially its fisheries and tourism
industries - tourism accounts for about 8% of the island nation’s GDP and 10%
of its employment. Coral aquaculture to repair degraded reef has gained
traction in Mauritius, with microfragmentation serving as a relatively new
technique where small coral fragments are mounted in off-site nurseries using
concrete blocks, galvanized structures, and natural basaltic rocks to support
coral growth.
Early monitoring at the restoration site has shown an
increase in local biodiversity, and an additional 1,890 coral fragments are
currently being propagated in the coral nursery to expand the restoration area.
With the site’s designation as a Voluntary Marine Conservation Area (VMCA), the
momentum for revitalizing biodiversity in the reef ecosystem using the power of
technology and partnerships is accelerating.
“Collaboration between public institutions and the private
sector is increasingly necessary to determine success in the face of complex
environmental challenges,” said James Hardcastle, Head of Protected and
Conserved Areas Team for IUCN. “We have the opportunity to take advantage of
technological innovations and incorporate them into conservation measures for
our ecosystems. This project exemplifies how cooperation and mainstreaming are
the way forward to halt biodiversity loss.”
“This project is the first of its kind that we are investing
in Mauritius, after dozens of successful experiences of developing solutions to
protect different species and natural spaces in countries around the world
using advanced technologies such as cloud, AI, and connectivity,” said Zheng
Kui, CEO of Huawei Mauritius. “The role of the technology industry in meeting
this challenge is key, but only through collaboration with strategic and
committed partners can the objectives be achieved in a real way.”
It is hoped that this project can be replicated in other
areas of Mauritius and balance the needs of tourism and conservation. And with
up to 50% of the world’s coral reef already destroyed or degraded, the
project’s success to date demonstrates the value of further large-scale global
reef restoration supported by digital technology. -AP