From left to right: E. Tambutte (CSM), E. Béraud (CSM), Mr. Colognoli (Coral Guardian), D. German (CSM), HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, HE Mr. X. Stiker, O. Jude ( Phoctopus) and R. Vevers (The Ocean Agency) at the opening of the exhibition "From coral to reef: a jewel in jeopardy" © C. Albuquerque (Heure Bleue)
- Organization
An exceptional evening to celebrate Monaco’s commitment to the Coral Reefs
As part of the Monaco Ocean Week, the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco hosted, on Friday 13th April 2018, an exceptional evening on the Principality of Monaco’s commitment to coral reefs in the presence of HSH the Sovereign Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Monaco’s action on reefs has been recognised for many years, first and foremost with the research work of the Monaco Scientific Centre, but also by the permanent financial support provided by the Prince’s Government for the actions to the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) and the Coral Reef Life Declaration, set out in Malta in 2017 at the Our Oceans Conference by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan on the initiative of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
This evening was devoted to four events:
– The opening of the exhibition “From Coral to Reef: A Jewel in Danger”, by S.A.S. Prince Albert II of Monaco. This exhibition was organised by the Scientific Center of Monaco with its partners the French NGO Coral Guardian, Phoctopus, a Monegasque association linked to the Monegasque Federation of Subaquatic Activities and The Ocean Agency.
Scheduled until January 2019 in the Salon of Honor of the Oceanographic Museum, this exhibition presents all the beauty of the reefs of its intimate details observed by scanning electron microscope to the largest coral colonies, not to mention unfortunately the degradations that the reefs of the world undergo through bleaching, direct anthropogenic actions or invasions of the Acanthaster starfish. The exhibition also shows the close links that unite the reefs and human societies.
– The presentation, by Dr. Nathalie Hilmi, Researcher in Environmental Economics at the Monaco Scientific Center, of the conclusions of the workshop on Science-based solutions to save coral reefs from ocean acidification and others environmental stress (conclusions to be found on the CSM website),
– The presentation by HE Mr. Xavier Sticker, French Ambassador Delegate for the Environment, and HE Mr. Bernard Fautrier, Vice-President and Managing Director of the Prince Albert II Foundation, Minister Plenipotentiary in charge of missions to the Ministry of State for issues related to the sustainable development of the co-chairmanship of Monaco, Australia and Indonesia of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI),
– The screening of the movie “Chasing Coral” in the presence of Richard Vevers, founder and CEO of The Ocean Agency. The film shows all the beauty and richness of coral reefs and their importance to humans. With amazing and impressive images, this film shows the disappearance of corals following the bleaching of their colonies due to the inexorable increase in seawater temperatures. An increase of 1 to 2 ° C is enough to cause the death of everything. an ecosystem in a few days, as if the Amazon rainforest was losing 30% of its surface area in the space of a month! A film that encourages action … but an action to be taken quickly before the irreversible death of our oceans.
Full article in French here