Iberostar sponsored Reef Futures 2018, the first global symposium on coral restoration and intervention science, which took place in Key Largo, FL December 10-15. The sponsorship is part of the Group’s Wave of Change efforts to contribute to the improvement of coastal health.
With a portfolio of more than 120 hotels in three continents, 80 percent of them in seafront locations, Iberostar says their hotels have strong ties to the oceans, dating back decades.
Reef Futures is hosted by the Coral Restoration Consortium (CRC), a community comprised of scientists, managers, coral restoration practitioners and educators dedicated to enabling coral reef ecosystems to survive. The event brought together over 400 leading scientists and experts from more than 30 countries to share the latest science and techniques for coral reef restoration, while kicking off a global effort to scale-up the impact and reach of restoration as a major tool for coral reef conservation. As part of the conference, the symposium adopted Iberostar’s Wave of Change movement by eliminating single use plastics and sourcing sustainable seafood while focusing on coastal health solutions.
Iberostar’s Wave of Change Movement
Iberostar has launched Wave of Change, a ambitious movement based on three lines of action: reducing plastic consumption, promoting sustainable fishing and improving coastal health. The initiative is in line with Goal 14 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, Life Below Water, which seeks to generate a change of mindset capable of encouraging everyone to fight for the conservation of our seas and oceans and was set up with the objective of bringing together employees, customers, suppliers and society in general with the common goal of making the tourism industry increasingly sustainable.
To support the third line of action, improvement of coastal health, Iberostar Group hired Dr. Megan Morikawa, science director for the company, who is developing programs within Iberostar to provide resources to help scale the practice of coral reef restoration. The project is advised by a team of researchers with expertise in coastal care and protection from Stanford University and University of California Santa Barbara. Alongside local partners, Iberostar has established its first coral reef nursery and is constructing an aquaria facility and laboratory in one of the Group’s hotel in Dominican Republic. The coral reef project is contributing to the research, protection and preservation of coral reefs and mangrove ecosystems, as well as the promotion of knowledge and the nurturing of marine life. Dr. Morikawa will speak on behalf of Iberostar Group during Reef Futures 2018 and will incentivize attendees to submit ideas on how to leverage the company’s resources for a chance to win a five-star, all-inclusive stay in Dominican Republic.
For more information about Iberostar’s Wave of Change movement visit www.waveofchange.com
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