THE BLEACHING NOBODY HEARD ABOUT…

In the early months of 2020, there was a lot going on in the world. Things were changing. Catastrophe was looming. Headlines were saturated with news of just one thing. COVID set the scene for a new status-quo, and life as we know it was being transformed. 

Whilst the whirlwind of unexpected change was sweeping across the planet, a quiet yet disturbing shift was happening below the surface too. As the world went into lockdown, reefs were being knocked about by warming sea surface temperatures. Just as the paling face of an ill patient loses its colour, corals were slowly but surely paling too. 

The reef was unwell; its fate uncertain.

Even if we – as humans – are able to fight a disease, illness takes time to recover from. If there is not enough time between recovery and the moment you’re faced with another challenge, your resilience and ability to fight that disease might be affected. These parallels are as much true for our own health as that of the reef. 

Luckily – at least this time – impacts of the warming were not prolonged, reefs were able to recover, and mortality was minimal.

So the question here is, was COVID enough of an excuse for most people to hear absolutely nothing about the reef and the challenges it was facing?

“Is human health the most important thing we need to care about?”

Of course if we are not in a good way ourselves, we can’t care for anything else. However, if we employ a sustainable mindset, would looking after and connecting to nature be – in and of itself – congruent with looking after our own health?

What impact could caring more for our planet have on our ability to live healthy, prosperous and fulfilling lives?

Keep posted to hear about two of Natalie’s favourite corals in the Lady Musgrave Lagoon: Lumpy and Bumpy, and the fascinating story of overcoming challenges… Coming shortly!