The Big Build, one of the largest single restoration projects in history, has been taken over by Mars Sustainable Solutions (MSS). By the end of this year, they hope to have restored one million corals worldwide.
To achieve the goal, Mars has assembled 100 participants from 17 conservation and science partners across governments, NGOs, business sectors, and local communities to plant 30,000 corals across 2500 sqm.
The Big Build is also a part of the SHEBA Hope Reef initiative, which has over 500 individuals actively restoring coral reefs with a target to restore more than 185,000 sqm by 2029.
The Big Build has equipped Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System, which restores damaged reefs more quickly, largely and affordably than other approaches.
The Mars teams have also trained participants to apply this system in order to accelerate the larger scale of restoration and the pace of global change.
Frank Mars, board member and former board chair of Mars, is proud to witness the cross-sector, community-centred collaboration shown in The Big Build.
“As we build on two decades of dedication to coral restoration through Mars Sustainable Solutions, it’s thrilling to witness the cross-sector, community-centered collaboration shown in The Big Build, demonstrating that it is possible to deliver resilient coral restoration at a large scale,” added Mars.
“ The world we want tomorrow is not going to materialise on its own. The success of SHEBA Hope Reef demonstrates that we can change the course of coral reefs if we collectively change how we live, work, and play together today.”
In 2006, Mars used to start the Mars Coral Reef Restoration Program in the Spermonde Archipelago off the coast of Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. This area is known as the most diverse and biologically complex marine ecosystem on the planet in The Coral Triangle.
Besides, the program has reached more than 30 reefs across 10 countries and five continents.
- Recommended reading: SunButter sunscreen helps protect endangered coral reefs.
