Become a “Coral Parent”! Coral Restoration in the Maldives – Visitors Can Dive In

Reporter You t
ru / Comprehensive Report

Who says traveling abroad is just about pleasure? Huvafen Villa Resort in the Maldives, dedicated to environmental protection and marine conservation, has launched a “Coral Conservation Program.” For just TWD 3,000, you can adopt a coral in the Baa Atoll, which is listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and become a “Coral Parent.” You can even monitor the status of your adopted coral online.


▲ The beautiful coral reef formations in the Maldives are a major draw for tourists. (Photo / Fromkihavah-maldives.anantara.com)

The Maldives, long known as one of the most beautiful vacation destinations in the world, has seen extensive coral bleaching and death in recent years due to global warming and human activity. Many marine creatures have consequently lost their natural habitats. In June 2011, the Baa Atoll, located in the Maldives, was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. However, the ecological condition of this vibrant atoll, home to a diverse range of life, has been deteriorating, and corals—regarded as one of the ocean’s most valuable assets—have been severely affected.

To contribute to environmental protection and ensure that visitors to the Maldives can still enjoy pristine coral reefs, Huvafen Villa Resort has initiated a long-term marine conservation and coral restoration program. To cultivate new coral growth on a large scale, the resort invites tourists to join this initiative for just TWD 3,000. Not only can you adopt a coral in the sea, but you can also track its progress in real time, fostering a sense of mutual care and responsibility.


▲ The resort has launched a coral conservation program and is inviting visitors to take part. (Photo / Fromkihavah-maldives.anantara.com)

This program, which began in November 2010, started when local marine ecologists, during the resort’s restoration process, established a coral park within the resort area. They experimented with attaching corals to eco-friendly frames. These frames, inserted into the sand, improved water flow in the surrounding areas, promoting excellent coral growth and effectively slowing down the destruction of the overall ecosystem.

Within just one year of constructing the coral frames, fast-growing staghorn and plate corals had completely covered the structures, and many marine organisms began to gather around them. As a result, the resort staff were determined to restore these beautiful corals on a larger scale and invited more tourists to join the conservation effort to contribute to the ocean’s well-being.

Small corals cost USD 100, medium-sized ones USD 200, and large ones USD 400. With the help of marine biology experts, participants can personally transplant corals onto frames in the shallow waters of the atoll—all that’s needed are basic snorkeling gear. Once the corals grow to a certain size, experts will relocate them to the central reef area. Every three months, marine experts upload photos of the corals, allowing “Coral Parents” from anywhere in the world to closely monitor their adopted coral’s progress.




▲ Adopters can view the status of their coral directly online. The photo shows the coral’s condition from February to September 2012. (Photo / Fromkihavah-maldives.anantara.com)