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In November 2001, the Vabbinfaru Lotus was successfully launched. This
unique reef restoration project was developed under the supervision of
architect Prof. Wolf Hilbertz, coral scientist Dr. Tom Goreau and Abdul
Azeez Abdul Hakeem, the marine environmental consultant to Banyan Tree
Maldives. The metal structure is two meters high, 12 meters in diameter
and shaped in the form of a giant lotus flower. Designed by the
specialists, the Lotus was built on site under the curious eyes of
holidaymakers and the staff members of Banyan Tree Maldives. The
scientists were extremely happy to find so much interest among guests
and employees who were eager to learn more about this exciting coral
reef restoration project and its background.
Coral reefs are the most complex ecosystems in the sea and often
described as the "rainforests" of the ocean. All around the world and
also throughout the Maldives, these rainforests have been severely
affected by rising global temperatures responsible for the bleaching and
death of corals. In 1998 record high water temperatures killed most of
the corals throughout the Indian Ocean. Maldivian reefs, the best in the
region, didn't escape the trend.
A method invented by Prof. Hilbertz and Dr. Goreau called "Mineral
Accretion" now enables us to restore marine habitats by using completely
safe low voltage electrical currents to grow solid limestone structures
in the sea and making additional energy available for the corals. The
energy accelerates the growth and reproduction of corals; it increases
their ability to resist environmental stresses and makes them healthier
and visibly brighter in color.
The Vabbinfaru Lotus is not only a visually appealing object but also
combines aesthetics with purpose. It acts as a coral nursery, a "Coral
Ark", that maintains a fascinating diversity of species. With its open
flower shape the surface area is maximized, inviting the sun to promote
the development and growth of the corals. Half a ton of welded
construction reinforcing bar was used to build the frame, which was then
carried by around 40 volunteers through the shallow lagoon and deposited
on the slope of Vabbinfaru's outer reef. The Lotus is now located at a
depth of three to ten meters.
As soon as the structure was placed in its final position, our team of
specialists rescued naturally broken pieces of live coral that had been
damaged by the waves, as well as corals that were growing on top of
loose rocks and rubble. These coral fragments were attached to the frame
of the Lotus by either wedging them into crevices or using plastic cable
ties, so that they would not move with the waves. Around 900 meters of
cable have been used for the Vabbinfaru Lotus so far. The electricity
for the Lotus comes from transformers converting high voltage
alternating current into low voltage direct current. It uses around 600
watts of power, which is only a little more than each of the lights on
the jetty attracting fish at night.
Now, divers and snorkelers can watch the Lotus grow into a magical
marine habitat - an incredible process. Within a few days to a couple of
weeks, the fixed coral fragments are solidly cemented in the frame, as
white limestone grows around them. Coral larvae, which are tiny
free-swimming baby corals, settle on the clean limestone rock produced
by "Mineral Accretion". All other forms of coral reef life will follow
quickly, transforming this structure into a real coral reef, dominated
by high-density corals and a complete and diversified selection of
normal reef creatures.
The same method was previously used very successfully on the neighboring
island of Angsana Ihuru, which is also under the Banyan Tree umbrella.
Ihuru is well known for its reputation as an environmentally conscious
and "green" island, where applying Mineral Accretion technology
dramatically enhanced coral survival.
The "Ihuru
Barnacle Project", a volcano shaped artificial reef structure
about four meters tall, six meters across and located in six meters
depth, was started exactly five years earlier in November 1996. It has
become a colourful and fertile mini eco-system of its own. Also on
Angsana Ihuru we find the "Necklace", a submerged breakwater structure
in the lagoon, about 40 meters long, four meters wide, and one and a
half meters high. This structure is protecting the nearby beach through
Mineral Accretion. The growing limestone has already achieved a
thickness of up to 25 cm in places and helps to break the force of the
waves, thereby reducing erosion on the beach. Another successful project
on Ihuru consists of three identical truncated pyramids in deeper water,
which serve as coral nurseries and homes to fish and other important
organisms. In 1998, when most corals in the natural reef died of heat
shock, 60-80% of the corals growing on our eco-structures survived.
Now with the Vabbinfaru Lotus in place, another vital step has been
taken to keep the rainforests of the sea alive and preserve those
wonders of the underwater world with all their delicate beauty and
compelling fascination. The project is all the more remarkable because
what started out as an artificial steel structure quickly developed into
a permanent and natural reef through calcium carbonate deposits and
coral growth. The large variety of fish and corals calling the
Vabbinfaru Lotus home is appreciated by divers and snorkels alike who
can explore it easily by themselves.
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