Huawei Mauritius, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and EcoMode Society announced a new phase of the Tech4Nature Mauritius project to study species' reproductive success in a restored area of reef in Mauritius.
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The new phase directly follows a key project milestone achieved in June in which the partners, supported by the local community, successfully transplanted 25,000 coral fragments cultivated in coral nurseries to a degraded area of the reef ecosystem in Pointe-aux-Feuilles, a 20-km2 site off the east coast of Mauritius. This project is one of the first its type in the Western Indian Ocean.
"I commend the achievement of the Tech4Nature initiative. Our objective is that by 2030, we can work together for a healthy ocean that supports nature and people," said the Honorable Sudheer Maudhoo, Minister of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping for Mauritius.
"With the support of the Tech4Nature initiative, Huawei, and its partners, we look forward to continued action to restore ocean and coastal biodiversity for future generations."
To monitor the mobility of species at the coral reef restoration site and determine the factors that disturb reproductive success, a solution comprising cameras and GPS receivers, 4G, and cloud has been deployed. The second phase of the project will use AI-based data analysis to guide the conservation decisions, support the research of marine biologists, and educate the public on the importance of reef conservation and restoration.
"The project will help us to have more information to manage and regulate public use," said Nadeem Nazurally, President of the EcoMode Society.
"It will also bring biodiversity conservation closer to the general public, as videos and other dissemination materials are planned through the mobile app. In collaboration with IUCN and Huawei, the project allows us to make a qualitative leap by incorporating new technologies to the monitoring and conservation of species."
The 243-km2 lagoon created by the 150-km reef system of fringing coral is home to a rich array of aquatic life, including 61 species of macroalgae, 110 species of corals, 132 species of fish, and many endemic species. ■