The schooner Tara back to sea for two years on the Pacific coral trace – TF1

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11 time zones traveled seven crossed seas and oceans, 30 countries visited …: for two years, the schooner Tara will go through the Pacific and Asia to explore the coral reefs. The permanent crew of six sailors and 7 scientists will travel nearly 100,000 km between this Saturday, May 28, 2016 and September 2018, date of his arrival in Vancouver, Canada. 70 scientists, coral biologists, oceanographers and specialists of plankton, also take turns on the boat to explore the coral reefs and their evolution in response to climate change and human pressure.

Coral reefs cover less than 0.2% of the area of ​​the oceans but meet almost 30% of known marine biodiversity nowadays. The figures speak for themselves and illustrate the importance of their role: the health of corals is crucial to the diversity of species, but also for humanity.

To study this ecosystem across the Pacific, home to 40% of coral reefs in the world, then that becomes a priority a large part of these ecosystems is disappearing. The vast majority of territories and islands which are searched by Tara are away from sources of anthropogenic pollution. This will allow scientists to measure the resulting disturbances mainly natural changes in the earth’s ecosystem.

Corals, vital “for the future of people in small islands”

the results of this research will be used for the scientific community. They will be of great benefit to local populations directly threatened by the disappearance of coral. “If the scientific community needs these new data, local and international players as well. Tara will help to better understand the issues that affect the biodiversity of cribs that are reefs that are important both for the future of the people, especially in small islands “said Etienne Bourgeois, president of Tara Expeditions Foundation.

Many stops in the Pacific will share with the largest number of the expedition issues. The Foundation Tara Expeditions will use this journey to challenge the political actors and society’s most urgent environmental issues. The public awareness effort will focus on the importance of coral reefs to these island nations and to humanity in general.

VIDEO Forwarding Tara. ocean life in human nets