getFromScope("blog","title"); ?>

Using Virtual Reality To Bring Awareness To SavinAg Our Coral Reefs

"Saving our Coral Reefs: A Virtual Reality Dive Experience" was the title of Conservation Internationals'  talk this year at SXSW Eco 2016 two weeks ago. It was a fascinating workshop about saving our dying coral reefs and one of the projects they are currently involved with. The group used virtual reality headsets to show us a short film called "Valen's Reef that takes place in the Birds Head Seascape in Papua, Indonesia. BHS contains over 75% of our oceans coral reefs and over 1700 species of fish.

The film tells the story of a local fisherman, Ronald Mambrasar as he monitors the reefs with his son, Valen.  Ronald tells his son how the area was almost destroyed & how it was restored through the community-led conservation initiative and it takes you on an underwater journey to the coral reefs and the islands which are stunningly beautiful. With VR technology, you are swimming in crystal clear water and gorgeous coral reefs along with sharks, stingrays, etc...

Apparently, this underwater paradise was decimated by commercial fishing, poaching and blast fishing, (using explosives to stun and catch fish). By the 1990s, fishing populations were down 90% as a result. Indonesians along the coasts saw their livelihoods and fishing rights diminished as outside interests profited from overfishing.

Since Conservation International got involved with helping the locals restore their islands, the fish have rebounded and sharks, whales, and stingrays have returned. Poaching is down 90% the coral reefs are recovering, ecotourism is flourishing and the locals livelihood has rebounded. The Bird’s Head Seascape is in the process of transitioning to an independent, community managed, Marine Protected Area and it "stands as a model for other programs around the world".

Hopefully this will be just one of many success stories to come in the effort to save our reefs and our planet. If you have never experienced VR technology, watch the video, they have a way to watch it in VR without the headsets. It's like nothing you have ever seen.



​​​​​​​


​​​​​​​


​​​​​​​


​​​​​​​


​​​​​​​

Michelle Doerr

Texas Licensed Real Estate Broker #0424230
Inquire Now
admin Real estate https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.organiclead.com/Site-f5d1045a-1c2b-4719-a298-72f1862107a5/team/Michelle_new_photo.jpg realtor # # # https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.organiclead.com/Site-f5d1045a-1c2b-4719-a298-72f1862107a5/team/Michelle_new_photo.jpg Doerr Realty - Best Realtors in San Antonio, Buy and Sell Your Home in Texas Best realtor in San Antonio TX. We specialize in residential real estate and luxury home sales throughout Texas. Call us to buy or sell your home Doerr Realty https://www.royacdn.com/unsafe/Site-f5d1045a-1c2b-4719-a298-72f1862107a5/MISC/SBP_DoerrRealty_Michelle_Front.jpg @michellesells Doerr Realty Doerr Realty - Best Realtors in San Antonio, Buy and Sell Your Home in Texas Best realtor in San Antonio TX. We specialize in residential real estate and luxury home sales throughout Texas. Call us to buy or sell your home! https://www.royacdn.com/unsafe/Site-f5d1045a-1c2b-4719-a298-72f1862107a5/MISC/SBP_DoerrRealty_Michelle_Front.jpg