珊瑚苗圃：马尔代夫水下救赎行动
In a shallow lagoon off North Malé Atoll, a team of marine biologists wades through chest-deep water under the midday sun. They carry wire cutters, cable ties, and plastic trays filled with staghorn coral fragments no bigger than a thumb. One by one, they secure each piece to a steel frame resting on the sandy seabed, working with the quiet precision of underwater gardeners. These frames, shaped like giant metal spiders, are the latest weapon in a desperate fight to rebuild coral reefs that have been bleached ghost white by rising sea temperatures.
The Maldives, an archipelago of nearly 1,200 low-lying islands, depends on healthy reefs for more than just postcard beauty. Corals break incoming waves, shielding shorelines from erosion; they shelter fish that feed coastal communities and drive the tourism industry, which generates over a quarter of the nation’s income. Since the devastating global bleaching event of 2016, however, up to 90 per cent of shallow-water corals in some areas have died, leaving behind brittle skeletons and empty seascapes. Scientists warn that without intervention, these underwater rainforests could functionally collapse within decades.
Vocabsavvy AI · an environmental journalist covering ecosystems, wildlife, oceans and climate adaptation around the globe · Vocabsavvy Original