conservation international – Seabed Habitats

As part of Earth Day 2013, Monday 22nd April 2013, Conservation International’s (CI’s) Chairman and CEO Peter Seligmann took part in a Twitter conservation, where followers had the opportunity to send in their own pressing questions about conservation issues important to them! Representing seabed related issues, I decided to ask two questions about rhodoliths and deep sea habitats.

Rhodolith beds absorb as much carbon per hectare as the rainforest. How does CI’s work on Abrolhos Seascape help protect maerl? #CIEarthDay
— Seabed Habitats (@seabedhabitats) April 22, 2013

As increasing anthropogenic activity occurs offshore, does CI plan to help protect vulnerable habitats such as cold water coral? #CIEarthDay
— Seabed Habitats (@seabedhabitats) April 22, 2013

Peter S.: Yes, we do, through our #seascapes program, which works to protect broad areas of ocean holistically. #CIEarthDay

— Conservation Intl (@ConservationOrg) April 22, 2013

The question on rhodoliths was referring to a recent discovery of the world’s largest rhodolith beds off the coast of Brazil- which cover an estimated 21 000 square km area- an area nearly the size of El Salvador! (Original news article here, with blog post here.)

Rhodolith beds off eastern Brazil (© Rodrigo L. de Moura)

Another user asked about the which areas CI will be focusing their conservation efforts in future. A particularly interesting answer to the question was:

A question from Moira M., via email: In what areas will CI be focusing its efforts in the immediate future? #CIEarthDay
— Conservation Intl (@ConservationOrg) April 22, 2013

Peter S.: 3 major areas. First: Helping societies understand that people NEED nature — it’s fundamental to prosperity. (1/3) #CIEarthDay
— Conservation Intl (@ConservationOrg) April 22, 2013

Peter S.: Second: helping businesses understand it’s in their enlightened self-interest to protect nature. (2/3) #CIEarthDay
— Conservation Intl (@ConservationOrg) April 22, 2013

Peter S.: Lastly: supporting governments so they can take the necessary steps to protect Earth’s bounty. (3/3) #CIEarthDay

— Conservation Intl (@ConservationOrg) April 22, 2013

Reflecting on Peter’s answer, this coupling between research and education, industry and governments seems to me to be the key to responsible environmental management. Of course this is indeed difficult to do in practice. You can follow more about the organisation’s work on their website, with the full twitter conversation here

Conservation International’s (CI) video about their work in the Abrolhos Seascape. Field Chronicles is a series where each episode showcases successful CI programs. This episode presents CI’s work in expanding marine protected areas in Abrolhos, Brazil, home of the greatest concentration of marine life in the South Atlantic. The focus is on the extreme challenges CI’s marine team faced, and how they overcame them through community involvement and amplification. This episode also is a good example of CI’s new mission in action as promoting green economies is key to the CI team’s strategy. Also featured is the discovery of the largest rhodolith beds in the world- an area the size of El Salvador!