"From Academia to Marine Conservation: Ulrike Pfreundt's rrreefs"

“Environmental grief” was the starting point for Dr. Ulrike Pfreundt’s journey to founding her startup dedicated to saving tropical coral reefs, she shared with me recently. What she has made of that feeling – and what she and rrreefs plan to accomplish by 2034 – left me deeply impressed. Some highlights that stood out: 🪸rrreefs aims to regenerate 1% of coastal reefs by 2034, which means restoring about 700 km of reef structure. 🪸They’re embedding co-design and participatory processes with local communities – fishers, residents – in everything from deciding reef-placement to monitoring. 3D-printing reef modules locally (as in Pujada Bay, Philippines) cuts costs and creates value for the surrounding community. 🪸There’s a regenerative business model: working with companies that want to support ocean biodiversity, and with tourism/hospitality to deliver reef repair and “regenerative experiences” that visitors can be part of. The urgency is real: coral reefs are under severe pressure from climate change and multiple other stressors. Ulrike and team are pushing boundaries and telling a story worth following. 🌊🐠🦈 👉Read my interview with Ulrike: https://lnkd.in/d-sVNRkB Marie Griesmar Roman Stocker Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering (D-BAUG) ETH Zurich ETH Entrepreneurship #biodiversity #impactbusiness #oceanhealth

🌍 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 — 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭? As the ocean gets more crowded, so do the conflicts. Fisheries, offshore energy, shipping, and conservation are all competing for the same space — and the stakes are rising. We often talk about “𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧” as if it's neutral — but let’s be honest: ➡️ It’s political. ➡️ It’s economic. ➡️ And it’s often contested. In the 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐕𝐄 project, we’re digging into the real-world tensions behind ocean planning: Who gains, who loses — and who decides? Can biodiversity goals coexist with industry needs? What does fairness look like when interests collide? 📍The ocean isn’t just a map — it’s a battleground of priorities. It’s time for marine governance that faces those trade-offs head-on. Learn more about how 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐕𝐄 is working toward equitable and effective ocean protection across the Barents Sea, Iceland, and Greenland: https://lnkd.in/dzH4vuhe #MarineGovernance #OceanUseConflicts #MPAs #MarineSpatialPlanning #RESOLVEproject #Fisheries #SustainableOcean #Biodiversity #natureBasedSolutions #climatejustice #stakeholderengagement The RESOLVE project Biodiversa+ Møreforsking UiT- The Arctic University of Norway DTU - Technical University of Denmark University of Stockholm Université Laval Hafrannsóknastofnun - Marine & Freshwater Research Institute Grønlands Naturinstitut NINA - Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Norway Raul Primicerio Kari E. Ellingsen Elvar H. Hallfredsson Jesper Boje Julian Burgos Vito De Lucia Thorsten Blenckner Nigel Yoccoz Anna Woodhead Bastiaan Klerk Margrete Emblemsvåg ICES - International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Norges forskningsråd Innovation Fund Denmark Formas, a Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development Rannís - The Icelandic Centre for Research

What does the #IUCNCongress do, and why is it important to UNDP? 🎥 Watch Midori Paxton, UNDP Nature Director, explain how the Congress shapes the future of conservation, what we've seen emerge from this 2025 Congress and how it is advancing UNDP Nature's Nature for Development agenda: #IUCNCongress #NatureForDevelopment #UNDPNature #NaturePositive #Biodiversity #NatureFinance #NaturePledge #ForPeopleForPlanet

BLOG POST | How do people in Kyrgyzstan view agricultural #soil and how has that changed over time? A new report from the SIANI expert group Reviving the Roots explores both historical and contemporary perceptions. Here are some key insights: ➡️ People have traditionally revered soil as a living ecosystem. ➡️ When these traditions were lost, many farmers resorted to practices that lead to erosion and land degradation. ➡️ Culture and communication can help people rediscover Kyrgyzstan’s rich heritage of soil conservation. In a new blog post, Simone de Boer and Tatiana Stebneva from Centralasiengrupperna, the Central Asia Solidarity Groups, tell us more about this inspiring approach. Read the blog post and report here: https://buff.ly/2YcQa5n

Now Adaptation Futures 2025 Cilun Djakiman presenting CLARE Programme REEFS project. REEFS assesses whether science, satellite data, DNA analysis can help promote biodiversity and health coral reefs, in context of widespread degradation. Paper looking at link between habitat heterogeneity and coral cover, crucial for long term conservation . Links are context dependent. Fine tuning metrics a priority. CLARE Programme Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office International Development Research Centre (IDRC) IDRC in Asia

After a 90% 📉 drop in lobster 🦞🦞 stocks over the past century, new research from the Institute of Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Norway 🇳🇴🇳🇴 Bergen shows that protection zones along Norway’s coast are finally working 📈 📖 Read the story 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dYtvXAX5 📸 Photo by Erlend Astad Lorentzen / Havforskningsinstituttet #Norway #Lobster #Science #Environment

Stories from the Subsoil – Episode 2 now available We are pleased to share the second episode of “Stories from the Subsoil”, a video series produced by Controvento within the framework of the Horizon Europe LOESS project. In this new chapter, Professor Paolo Pileri from Politecnico di Milano offers his perspective as a soil conservation engineer. His insights highlight the essential role of soil in ensuring environmental resilience and sustainable territorial management. 🎥 Filming and editing by Mathieu Goradesky 🤝 Developed in collaboration with the Italian Community of Practice of LOESS #StoriesFromTheSubsoil #LOESSproject #LOESSItalia #HorizonEurope #MissionSoil #SoilHealthEducation #Sustainability #ClimateAction #SoilProtection #Controvento #PolitecnicoDiMilano #CommunityOfPractice #EUResearch Mathieu Goradesky Paolo Pileri LOESS Italia

Swansea academics work to speed up plans to improve global marine restoration projects 🪸 Marine ecosystems like coral reefs, seagrasses, and mangroves are vanishing fast. Now, a team led by Swansea University marine scientists is driving forward efforts to restore our oceans. Their new international study highlights how outdated regulations are slowing down vital restoration projects, and sets out six key actions to change that. From streamlining permits to embracing innovation, their recommendations could help meet global targets to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030. Led by Associate Professor Richard Unsworth, this work puts Swansea researchers at the heart of a global movement to protect and revive marine and coastal environments. 🔗 Read more about the research and the plans to change: https://lnkd.in/eWWGhWVt ---------------------------------- Mae Academyddion o Abertawe'n gweithio i gyflymu cynlluniau i wella prosiectau adfer morol ledled y byd 🪸 Nawr, mae tîm dan arweiniad gwyddonwyr morol o Brifysgol Abertawe'n ysgogi ymdrechion i adfer ein cefnforoedd. Mae eu hastudiaeth ryngwladol newydd yn amlygu sut mae rheoliadau sydd wedi dyddio’n arafu prosiectau adfer hanfodol ac yn cynnig chwech o weithredoedd allweddol i newid hynny. O symleiddio trwyddedau i groesawu arloesi, gallai eu hargymhellion helpu i gyflawni targedau byd-eang i adfer 30% o ecosystemau diraddedig erbyn 2030. Dan arweiniad yr Athro Cysylltiol Richard Unsworth, mae'r gwaith hwn yn rhoi ymchwilwyr yn Abertawe wrth wraidd mudiad byd-eang i amddiffyn ac adfywio mgylcheddau morol ac arfordirol. 🔗 Darllenwch y stori lawn yma: https://lnkd.in/eKFcHESm #MarineRestoration #OceanRecovery #Sustainability

🌊 What if restoring nature could be as profitable as exploiting it? 💡💰 This week on #Ecosystemic, our host Raouf REMIDAN sits down with George Birch, founder of Oyster Heaven, to explore how oyster reefs can clean oceans, protect coastlines, and generate real economic value. 🦪✨ Tired of the limits of traditional conservation, George turned his finance background into a bold new model where nature itself becomes infrastructure and regeneration is measurable, investable, and scalable. 📊🌍 From restoring marine biodiversity to shielding coastal communities, his approach proves that the blue economy can balance purpose and profit. 🌐🚀 By fusing ecology with entrepreneurship, George is showing us a future where innovation serves both people and the planet. 🌱💼 #Sustainability #OceanConservation #BlueEconomy #EcoInnovation #ProtectNature #ClimateAction #MarineBiodiversity #CleanOceans #Regeneration #NatureBasedSolutions

The new #HorizonEurope project #COASTSCAPES explores coastal regions around the world and develops strategies to strengthen their resilience to climate change. 🌊🌎 Hereon will be responsible for the Wadden Sea–Weser Estuary pilot region, one of nine sites selected as climate vulnerability hotspots. In this pilot region, researchers aim to test measures and models that should be applied to other coastal regions. “Hereon stands out as a key player in the new EU project COAST-SCAPES, leading the Wadden Sea pilot and bringing together scientists and regional stakeholders to co-develop”, says Dr Joanna Staneva from Hereon's Institute of Coastal Systems – Analysis and Modeling. She is the Principle Investigator (PI) of the project at Hereon. “Through its expertise in coastal resilience and Nature-Based Solutions, Hereon contributes to developing innovative approaches that strengthen climate adaptation and promote sustainable coastal management.” Hereon will work together with the Coastal Research Station of the Lower Saxony Water Management, Coastal Defence and Nature Conservation Agency (NLWKN). Further, the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München will focus on governance, climatic justice and social equality, and the GCF - Global Climate Forum e.V. will prepare business models and long-term financial strategies. COAST-SCAPES is funded under the Horizon Europe “Climate, Energy and Mobility” cluster, with a total budget of almost 9 million euros. 31 institutions from Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas are participating. The whole project is coordinated by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) in #Barcelona, #Spain. #CuttingEdgeResearch #ChangingWorld #Helmholtz #Europe #HorizonEurope #CoastalResearch #WaddenSea #WeserEstuary #ResearchProject #NorthSea European Commission