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.
O objectivo da nova campanha global, '#protectourbeds', é ajudar a impedir a destruição de ervas marinhas vitais. Trata-se de sensibilizar os utilizadores da água para os locais onde se encontram os fundos marinhos sensíveis e encorajá-los a minimizar as perturbações, ancorando-os especialmente.
As ervas marinhas combatem as alterações climáticas através da absorção e armazenamento de enormes quantidades de carbono, mas estima-se que sejam o habitat de desaparecimento mais rápido do planeta, principalmente devido à actividade humana evitável. Enquanto se inicia no Reino Unido, a campanha está agora à procura de parceiros de dados em toda a Europa e nos EUA para o próximo marco do projecto.
“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.
Os prados de ervas marinhas armazenam 10% do carbono do oceano e são protagonistas fundamentais no combate às alterações climáticas. Podem ser até 35 vezes mais eficientes na absorção de carbono do que as florestas tropicais da mesma área e também proporcionam um habitat para espécies raras e ameaçadas de extinção. Apesar da importância da erva marinha, só no Reino Unido, perdemos quase metade dos nossos leitos de erva marinha desde a década de 1930, principalmente devido à actividade humana evitável.
“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.
A campanha #protectourbeds procura parceiros de dados em toda a Europa e nos EUA para o próximo marco do projecto. Todas as perguntas e aplicações podem ser dirigidas aos marinheiros da Clean Sailors através de info@cleansailors.com.
