Why we choose to paint Coral Reefs
As global temperatures rise due to fossil fuels, the oceans are absorbing 90% of that heat. The problems that heat causes are felt much differently around the world. Whether it's the decimation of snow crabs in Alaska, erosion in Florida, increased storms and hurricanes in the Caribbean and in the South Pacific, or the loss of our tropical coral reef systems, every ecosystem is being impacted. It is the loss of coral reef ecosystems, however, that likely will cause the greatest amount of human suffering in the coming century.
While tropical Coral Reefs occupy less than one percent of our oceans, they serve as nurseries and homes for an estimated 25% of all ocean life. Nearly every living thing on Earth, including nearly every single human, benefits directly from flourishing Coral Reefs. Human activity, from the burning of fossil fuels to overfishing and pollution, have caused a serious degradation of our coral reef ecosystems. Even in patrolled Marine Sanctuaries, warming oceans and increasing hurricane activity is taking a heavy toll on this priceless resource.
For most Americans, coral reef issues can seem distant and abstract, but we don't need to travel the world to see major changes in our reefs and ocean life. Right here in the USA, our oceans are changing before our eyes. In a healthy coral reef ecosystem, 70% of hard surfaces are covered in coral. Already, Florida's reef is down to 2% coverage and the water is warmer every year with no end in sight. Scientists are concerned that such low coverage may not be enough to re-propagate the reef and that species of fish, coral, and invertebrates are losing numbers and diversity every year.
Approximately One Billion people rely on Coral Reefs for income and food. These people are, for the most part, not the people who have caused the global climate crisis. These people who depend on reefs directly are among the world's poorest, while it is wealthy, more developed nations who are burning the fuels causing the damage. Our paintings are intended to show the beauty of these reefs and what we stand to lose if we don't all get involved and find a way to help our coral reefs continue to thrive.
Fortunately, it's not too late to act. Numerous groups have gotten involved with research, creating DNA banks of threatened coral species, and even planting corals which have been grown in labs with the ability to withstand the increasing temperatures in our tropical seas. Here, we have a short list of the organizations we trust with our own donations and support to do the critical work of preserving our reefs for future generations.
Coral Gardeners
www.coralgardeners.org
Coral Gardeners, based in French Polynesia, is a group of scientists and volunteers who plant corals on damaged reefs to help restore damaged ecosystems. They have already planted over 100,000 heat-resistant, fast-growing coral fragments in the South Pacific.
Coral Reef Alliance (CoRAl)
coral.org
As one of the largest global NGOs focused exclusively on protecting coral reefs, the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) has used cutting-edge science and community engagement for nearly 30 years to reduce direct threats to reefs and to promote scalable and effective solutions for their protection.
The Coral Ark International
thecoralarkinternational.org
At Coral Ark, scientists are working to create a DNA Vault of Corals from around the world to mitigate extinction of coral species in the wild, and helping them to adapt to warming seas through selective breeding in the lab.
While tropical Coral Reefs occupy less than one percent of our oceans, they serve as nurseries and homes for an estimated 25% of all ocean life. Nearly every living thing on Earth, including nearly every single human, benefits directly from flourishing Coral Reefs. Human activity, from the burning of fossil fuels to overfishing and pollution, have caused a serious degradation of our coral reef ecosystems. Even in patrolled Marine Sanctuaries, warming oceans and increasing hurricane activity is taking a heavy toll on this priceless resource.
For most Americans, coral reef issues can seem distant and abstract, but we don't need to travel the world to see major changes in our reefs and ocean life. Right here in the USA, our oceans are changing before our eyes. In a healthy coral reef ecosystem, 70% of hard surfaces are covered in coral. Already, Florida's reef is down to 2% coverage and the water is warmer every year with no end in sight. Scientists are concerned that such low coverage may not be enough to re-propagate the reef and that species of fish, coral, and invertebrates are losing numbers and diversity every year.
Approximately One Billion people rely on Coral Reefs for income and food. These people are, for the most part, not the people who have caused the global climate crisis. These people who depend on reefs directly are among the world's poorest, while it is wealthy, more developed nations who are burning the fuels causing the damage. Our paintings are intended to show the beauty of these reefs and what we stand to lose if we don't all get involved and find a way to help our coral reefs continue to thrive.
Fortunately, it's not too late to act. Numerous groups have gotten involved with research, creating DNA banks of threatened coral species, and even planting corals which have been grown in labs with the ability to withstand the increasing temperatures in our tropical seas. Here, we have a short list of the organizations we trust with our own donations and support to do the critical work of preserving our reefs for future generations.
Coral Gardeners
www.coralgardeners.org
Coral Gardeners, based in French Polynesia, is a group of scientists and volunteers who plant corals on damaged reefs to help restore damaged ecosystems. They have already planted over 100,000 heat-resistant, fast-growing coral fragments in the South Pacific.
Coral Reef Alliance (CoRAl)
coral.org
As one of the largest global NGOs focused exclusively on protecting coral reefs, the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) has used cutting-edge science and community engagement for nearly 30 years to reduce direct threats to reefs and to promote scalable and effective solutions for their protection.
The Coral Ark International
thecoralarkinternational.org
At Coral Ark, scientists are working to create a DNA Vault of Corals from around the world to mitigate extinction of coral species in the wild, and helping them to adapt to warming seas through selective breeding in the lab.