We use cookies on this website. By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings, you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: LogOn: Coral Reefs Tech (TV/R)
HEADLINE: LogOn: Restoring Coral Reefs to Help Save The Planet
TEASER: Ecologists racing against time to restore coral
PUBLISHED: 12/5/2023 at 8:30am
BYLINE: Julie Taboh
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR: Adam Greenbaum
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Stearns
SCRIPT EDITORS: Stearns; caw
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Skype, Archireef, Raising Coral, Reuters, AP
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 1:54 and 2:00
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR [notes]: There is also a Feature version of this story, released August 18.))
((INTRO)) [[With warming ocean waters threatening much of the world’s coral reefs, some ecologists are using simple technology to help restore them. VOA’s Julie Taboh has more.]]
((NARRATOR))
Coral reefs are in danger.
Rapidly warming ocean waters is the main reason the coral is dying in record numbers.
((Courtesy: ARCHIREEF))
The nature technology company Archireef ((ar-kee-reef)) is responding with 3D-printed terracotta “reef tiles” that can be embedded into strategic areas of the ocean floor as a substrate to help grow new coral.
((Radio track: Deniz Tekerek ((Tech-er-ech)) is co-founder and chief commercial officer of the company. He spoke with VOA via Skype.))
((Deniz Tekerek, Archireef Co-founder)) ((SKYPE))
“We place them with divers. We place them at the bottom of the ocean. And then we place coral fragments on top.”
((Courtesy: ARCHIREEF))
((NARRATOR))
One of the benefits of the lightweight tiles is they can be moved to deeper, cooler waters as needed.
((Deniz Tekerek, Archireef Co-founder)) ((SKYPE))
“A diver can essentially deploy up to about 40 square meters in a single day, by themselves.”
((Courtesy: ARCHIREEF))
((NARRATOR))
That versatility improves chances for success as ocean temperatures continue to rise.
((Deniz Tekerek, Archireef Co-founder)) ((SKYPE))
“Three years after deploying our first set of coral fragments at our site in Hong Kong, 95 percent of those corals continue to survive, and that's very high.”
((NARRATOR))
Restoration projects are essential as some scientists estimate the world has already lost half its coral over the past 30 years due to climate change.
If corals die, their disappearance will have a catastrophic impact on life in and out of the ocean.
Coral reefs protect our shorelines, maintain biodiversity in the water, and are essential to marine life.
((Courtesy: RAISING CORAL))
In Central America, the project Raising Coral Costa Rica is taking small pieces of coral from the wild and growing them in underwater nurseries for replanting on the reefs.
The team uses simple technology to keep track of where the coral fragments come from, to find the most resilient.
((Radio track: Joanie Kleypas ((CLAY-pus)) is a coral reef scientist and director of Raising Coral Costa Rica. She spoke with VOA via Skype))
((Joanie Kleypas, Raising Coral Costa Rica Director)) ((SKYPE))
“We're also distributing our corals to many more locations with things like temperature sensors and monitoring just to make sure we are gathering
((Courtesy: RAISING CORAL))
as much information as we can about where to put them in the future.”
((end courtesy))
((NARRATOR)) Kleypas says what gives her hope is corals’ resilience and their capacity to adapt.
((Julie Taboh, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateDecember 5, 2023 09:44 EST
BylineJulie Taboh
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English, US Agency for Global Media
