Long Presumed Dead, a Thriving Coral Reef Is Discovered in West Africa
Sixty years after fishing surveyors first spotted coral off Benin, my team finally rediscovered this thriving ecosystem. Guided by hope and a National Geographic grant, we overcame funding hurdles and equipment failures to locate a healthy mesophotic reef. This discovery reveals eight coral types and diverse fish species, offering a unique window into past climates and a vital opportunity for conservation in the Gulf of Guinea.
We don't need to wait for others to come to our country to show us what is under our sea. We are the ones who must take responsibility.
- rendonroman
Nice to read a paper that's looking for paths of persistence instead of only documenting decline. Climate stories often end with "thing are getting worse", this one also asks where ecosystems might still persist if local conditions are managed well.
- F7F7F7
The biodiversity in West Africa in general is completely underrated. I mean, Darwin solidified his trajectory in life a few short days after the Beagle anchored off of Cape Verde (a place he initially detested then fell in love with).
I'm hoping that Cape Verde's World Cup success story translates to more eye balls on stories like this (with the mere mention of the country landing it in search results). Which means more attention, money and research to West Africa's relatively fragile but diverse ecosystem.
- SparkyMcUnicorn
This source appears to have more images and info: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles...
- bix6
For the coral lovers. There are multiple companies working on reef preservation. They are woefully under resourced. If you can help, please do.
- novia
> Zinzindohoué agrees: “We don’t need to wait for others to come to our country to show us what is under our sea. We are the ones who must take responsibility.