Tokyo Cement Group’s progress in coral conservation
View(s):Tokyo Cement Group is deeply involved in coral reef conservation for nearly a decade, making it one of their keystone environmental sustainability initiatives. The cement group formed a consortium of partners to share expertise to restore the severely threatened Coral Reef barrier along the Sri Lankan shoreline. These like-minded environmentalist organisations each bring in a complementing set of knowledge and experience to provide a holistic and sustainable solution to curb the depletion of corals, the company said in a media release.
Coral reefs are among the most diverse natural ecosystems on earth, as the home to a quarter of all marine species. Not just that, coral reefs provide many important services in the form of coastal protection, food security, recreation and livelihoods, supporting extensive fisheries and tourism industries across many tropical coastal nations. However, they are increasingly threatened by human activities and many reefs have already been lost or are being degraded at an alarming rate, it said.
Highlighting the sense of urgency in taking immediate and progressive action, Salinda Kandapola, Corporate Manager – Sustainability at Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) PLC said, “Corals are diminishing very fast. If we don’t act immediately, the damage is irreversible.”
Setting off the programme along the North-Eastern coastline from Pasikudah, Kayankerni, Dutch Bay, all the way up to Jaffna, the company started deploying Reef balls; hollow concrete structures that act as substrate for new corals and marine life to grow on and form habitats around. These Reef ball structures are made in-house, using recycled concrete waste from their Ready-Mix Concrete plants.
Before the corals begin to grow, the Reef balls attract young fish who seek shelter from larger prey, which ultimately leads to the formation of fish communities. Since inception, the programme has deployed over 1,000 Reef balls along the Sri Lankan coastline in places where the coral barrier is severely damaged, effectively creating a natural extension of the marine ecosystems. This initiative reaching its ultimate goal, has helped breathe new life into over 60 species of coral in Pasikudah.
One of the foundations of the initiative is to include scientific research to understand the causes of reef degradation and resilient, identify priority areas for conservation and develop appropriate management measures. As part of this plan, the company also funds research, education and awareness building related to coral reef conservation. Research supported by Tokyo Cement is supporting improved management of coral reefs around the country. The project conducts a range of activities including gathering data on coral and reef fish distribution, reef based fisheries, coral reef mapping, oceanographic monitoring, research symposiums, and engaging communities including fishermen, school children, university students and tourism stakeholders, according to the release.
“We work with likeminded people, using their talents, expertise and experience. Independent groups, university and research students, and local fishing communities are involved in our activities, making them stakeholders of our collective achievements,” Mr. Kandapola said.
The key partners of this initiative include the Wildlife Research and Conservation Trust (WRCT), the Blue Resources Trust (BRT), Sri Lanka Navy and the Foundation of Goodness. The company also assists government institutions such as the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) and the Department of Wildlife Conservation in their scientific research and data collection efforts in addition to forging international links with coral conservation entities.