Discover the simple changes you can make to protect coral reefs for future generations.
Coral reefs – often described as the “rainforests of the sea” – are some of the most astoundingly biodiverse ecosystems in the world. They support a quarter of all marine species, protect our coastlines, provide food and livelihoods for 500 million people and are even used in the development of new medicines. Yet, these exceptional animals (that’s right, coral is an animal!) are under threat. This World Environment Day join the United Nations Environment Programme, The Ocean Agency and Reef-World for a fascinating discussion about these vital ecosystems. You’ll learn:
Why is coral so important?
What threats does this ecosystem face?
How a ground-breaking Netflix Originals documentary has put corals in the global spotlight
How the Green Fins initiative is conserving coral reefs around the world
The simple changes YOU can make to protect coral reefs for future generations.
For more videos from the Green Fins initiative, please head to our YouTube channel.
About the panel
Gabriel Grimsditch, Programme Management Officer, United Nations Environment Programme
Gabriel Grimsditch is a Programme Management Officer and marine ecosystems expert with the United Nations Environment Programme based at the headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. He has over 15 years’ experience working on the conservation, research and sustainable management of coastal ecosystems around the world, including with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and with CORDIO East Africa. Gabriel currently leads UNEP’s work on coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass.
Richard Vevers, Founder and CEO, The Ocean Agency
Richard Vevers is the founder and CEO of The Ocean Agency, The Advertising Agency for the Ocean - a unique nonprofit accelerating ocean conservation action through creativity, technology and powerful partnerships. Before diving into ocean and coral reef conservation, Vevers first worked at some of the top London advertising agencies and then as an artist and underwater photographer. It is this background that has guided his unique creative and business-thinking approach to ocean conservation. His ideas have included; inventing the SVII camera and taking Google Streetview Underwater, the Netflix Original Documentary Chasing Coral, and 50 Reefs - a targeted approach to saving coral reefs. His imagery, revealing what is happening to our oceans, is some of the most viewed underwater imagery of all time, and his ideas, project and public speaking have made him a leading voice in the fight to save coral reefs.
Chloë Harvey, Director, The Reef-World Foundation
Chloë Harvey is a professional diver and marine biologist with over 15 years’ experience working in tropical marine environments and supporting adoption of sustainable business models and practice within all segments of the diving industry. As Director of the UK Charity Reef-World she has developed the Green Fins initiative for sustainable diving in partnership with the UN Environment Programme. She has worked with over 500 business owners and 19 national authorities to provide them with the tools and support needed to drive sustainable marine tourism practices.
James J Harvey, Director, The Reef-World Foundation
JJ Harvey is a marine biologist and diver with over 10 years’ experience working in tropical marine environments. This combined background provides a scientific and balanced approach to training, helping to educate those in a position to act and explain how and why it is important to reduce threats to marine ecosystems. JJ has worked closely with national governments, the private sector and international agencies to achieve successful outcomes that are meaningful to all stakeholders. As Director at Reef-World, JJ has led the development of Green Fins across eleven South East Asian, Middle Eastern, Pacific, and Caribbean countries since 2008 training national governments and NGO's to manage the initiative. Today, Green Fins is a globally recognised approach for managing sustainable diving activities internationally with a proven conservation impact.
To care for ourselves we must care for coral.
It’s time to wake up. To take action. To raise our voices.
It’s time to make simple changes for a sustainable future.
It’s Time for Coral.