An exciting new campaign between Not-for-profit, Clean Sailors, the Ocean Conservation Trust and all-in-one navigation app, Savvy Navvy, supports sailors to combat climate change by digitally mapping sensitive seabeds and eco-moorings across boating hotspots around the world.
L'obiettivo della nuova campagna globale, "#protectourbeds", è quello di contribuire a impedire la distruzione di fanerogame marine di importanza vitale. Si tratta di sensibilizzare gli utenti dell'acqua su dove si trovano i fondali marini sensibili e di incoraggiarli a ridurre al minimo il disturbo, in particolare l'ancoraggio.
Le paludi combattono il cambiamento climatico assorbendo e immagazzinando enormi quantità di carbonio, ma si stima che siano l'habitat che sta scomparendo più rapidamente sul pianeta, soprattutto a causa di attività umane evitabili. Dopo l'avvio nel Regno Unito, la campagna è ora alla ricerca di partner di dati in tutta Europa e negli Stati Uniti per la prossima tappa del progetto.
“The #protectourbeds campaign is collating geo-spatial data on sensitive seabeds and showing the information in the Savvy Navvy navigation app - providing sailors and water-users with a clear view of where seagrass beds are and alternatives to anchoring.
By mapping and sharing sensitive seabed locations with digital navigators, and the location of alternatives - eco-moorings - we can educate, inspire and encourage our sailing community to make more informed anchoring choices when out on the water. Making this data visible to those of us who can mitigate our impact when boating, across the world, is incredibly exciting and just makes so much sense to seagrass conservation efforts globally,” says Holly Manvell, founder of Clean Sailors.
Le praterie di fanerogame immagazzinano il 10% del carbonio dell'oceano e sono protagoniste fondamentali nella lotta al cambiamento climatico. Possono essere fino a 35 volte più efficienti nell'assorbire il carbonio rispetto alle foreste pluviali della stessa area e forniscono anche un habitat per specie rare e in via di estinzione. Nonostante l'importanza delle fanerogame, nel solo Regno Unito abbiamo perso quasi la metà delle praterie di fanerogame dagli anni '30, soprattutto a causa di attività umane evitabili.
“The Ocean Conservation Trust has been working with the boating community to conserve nature for the past decade, so we are delighted to be the scientific adviser in this project. The addition of sensitive habitat information on Savvy Navvy navigational charts is the first time the boating community can easily understand what lies beneath the keel. Seagrass habitats are biodiversity hotspots and in decline from multiple pressures, so providing this information to the conscientious boater is a significant step forward in the recovery of this vital Ocean habitat,” said Mark Parry, Head of Ocean Habitat Restoration at the Ocean Conservation Trust.
Savvy Navvy users are from today able to see the location of existing seabeds and eco-moorings around the South West of the UK in the all-in-one navigation app. The project will build UK-wide sensitive seabed data and then focus on European waters and beyond through the course of 2023-24.
“We are so excited to work with Clean Sailors and the Ocean Conservation Trust, and be one of the only navigation apps on the market helping to build environmental awareness of carbon footprint through showcasing vital seagrass data. While Savvy Navvy is all about simplifying boating technology by making navigation safe and easy for everyone, innovative campaigns helping boaters to make better choices when out on the water is something we feel very strongly about. This year we are looking to build one of the most insight-rich platforms on boating behaviour, helping marine businesses across the globe and the #protectourbeds campaign is a great way to kickstart this,” says David Cusworth, Head of Innovation and Partnerships at Savvy Navvy.
La campagna #protectourbeds è alla ricerca di partner di dati in Europa e negli Stati Uniti per la prossima tappa del progetto. Tutte le richieste e le candidature possono essere indirizzate a Clean Sailors tramite info@cleansailors.com.
