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Dang Chi Kien & Team | Hanoi, Vietnam
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Shores of Resilience: Harnessing the Power of Coastal Tree Planting to Safeguard Viet Nam’s Coral Reefs
Team members: Yen Nhi, Duy Khang, Trong Hung, Duc Tung, Tue Nguyen
Today, coral reefs are being destroyed by many factors, such as urban development, destructive coastal fishing practices, and climate change. Especially in Vietnam, urban development along the coast and overexploitation of marine resources, sedimentation, and eutrophication, combined with uncontrolled exploitation of coral reef resources, have contributed to the disturbance of marine resources, the most prominent of which has witnessed a 50% decline in coral reef populations with an area of about 400 ha. This issue motivated Kien and his team to find an innovative solution that facilitates the growth of coral reefs and lessens the effects of global warming on sea life, while also educating the community on this topic. Their innovative solution, EcoReefTech, includes a revolutionary Coral Conical system and 3D printing that is used to create intricate and customized biorock structures. This allows for the production of structures that mimic natural coral formations, providing optimal conditions for coral attachment and growth. In addition, incorporating biorock technology in its structure will help promote coral growth and the development of coral reefs by accelerating the deposition of calcium carbonate. State-of-the-art sensors will continuously monitor crucial parameters such as pH levels, temperature, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, chlorophyll, and coral health across various regions in Vietnam. This real-time data is then transferred into an application, empowering scientists and conservationists to make informed decisions for effective reef restoration and preservation. Additionally, this innovation will engage in large-scale tree-planting initiatives to help stabilize the soil along vulnerable coastal areas and provide environmental education initiatives for the community.