Since launching their partnership in 2022, Windstar Cruises and Coral Gardeners have created a powerful alliance for ocean conservation in French Polynesia. The Moorea-based nonprofit organization focuses on revolutionizing ocean conservation and building a global movement to save coral reefs through innovative restoration techniques.
The collaboration has yielded impressive results. As of May 2024, Windstar and its guests have collectively adopted 3,660 corals through a $35 donation program that began on Tahiti-based cruises and has since expanded across Windstar's entire fleet. By December 2023, Coral Gardeners had planted 100,870 corals, covering 12,494 square meters of reef and restoring 11 reefs with 45 different coral species.
Coral Gardeners operates on three fundamental pillars: restoration, awareness and innovation. Their restoration efforts use cutting-edge techniques to grow and plant resilient corals that can revive reef ecosystems. The organization's awareness initiatives have educated over 7,000 local people, including schoolchildren, fishermen and government officials. Their innovation pillar drives CG Labs, which leverages technology, science, artificial intelligence and statistics to support their mission.
The organization's commitment to local communities runs deep. Based in Moorea, Coral Gardeners employs local residents and provides career opportunities that allow people to protect their own backyard. This community-focused approach has created a network of "little coral gardeners" among local schoolchildren and engaged various stakeholders in conservation efforts.
Coral Gardeners is expanding beyond French Polynesia. Their first international branch opened in Fiji on Malolo Island, home to the world's third-largest barrier reef. There, they established three nurseries with nearly 11,000 corals collected for their thermal resiliency and biodiversity. Thailand represents their next expansion, where they're working with local communities to train future gardeners to restore reefs previously damaged by dynamite fishing.
The partnership with Windstar continues to evolve, with plans for new excursions when Star Breeze visits Moorea. These experiences will take guests to Coral Gardeners' headquarters and floating coral tree nurseries in Paopao Bay, offering hands-on participation in reef restoration efforts.
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