Women + Waves are proud to support a range of incredible people that are making a real difference in our world. One organisation that’s especially close to our hearts is the amazing Mossy Earth. Their mission to restore the vital coral reefs of Indonesia, one of the world’s most iconic surf destinations and the site of our Women + Waves Bali Island Surf Camp, resonates deeply with our core values as a company and as individuals. As visitors to this beautiful and environmentally important location, we believe it’s our responsibility to help protect it for future generations. That’s why Women + Waves have been a proud sponsor of the Mossy Earth for the last 4 years, and are excited to be working alongside them on their latest Coral Restoration Project to preserve these precious ecosystems.
Who Are Mossy Earth?
Mossy Earth are an amazing social enterprise organisation who seek to protect and restore biodiversity across a wide variety of ecosystems. From just £5.00 a month (the cost of your morning coffee) Mossy Earth members can help to support environmental projects from reforestation in Iceland to protecting Seagrass and Oysters in Scotland. The coral reef restoration project in Indonesia is led by a team of bodyboarders, surfers and climbers, people who spend their lives in the great outdoors and want to see it flourish rather than diminish.
As a part of this community in Indonesia, Women + Waves are just as concerned and dedicated to seeing this environment reinstated to its natural glory. Any surfer, bodyboarder or diver enjoying the warm Indonesian ocean or surfing it’s amazing waves has a responsibility to take care of that same ecosystem. If you feel the same and also want to help with these incredibly important projects, visit mossy.earth for more information.
Why are coral reefs so important?
Coral reefs are known as ‘the rainforests of the ocean’. These vibrantly complex ecosystems harbour the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem globally. An estimated 25% of all marine species depend on reefs. They are also crucial for millions of people, providing food, livelihoods, resources and coastal protection, and they create amazing waves loved by surfers and bodyboarders alike.
Threats to the Reef
Major threats, such as over-exploitation and climate change, are jeopardising the future of coral reefs. In the last few decades, sharp declines in reef cover have occurred worldwide. The biggest threats to these fragile ecosystems are:
1. Global Warming and Climate Change
Environmental changes have been generating greenhouse gas emissions that have caused unprecedented mass coral bleaching events.
2. Overfishing and anchoring on top of coral reefs
The removal of essential species of fish from overfishing, and the anchoring of tourist and fishing boats on reefs has a catastrophic effect on the health of coral reefs.
3. Destructive fishing
Some fishing methods are extremely damaging to marine habitats, and many are now illegal. Practices like fine-mesh fishing and blast fishing cause massive destruction to the reefs, making it impossible for them to regenerate.
4. Pollution
The development of tourist resorts, new ports, urban areas, and agricultural activities is leading to a dangerous level of sediment, chemical, and nutrient pollution in the ocean around Indonesia.
5. Other threats
There are many more threats to coral reefs from natural disasters and extreme weather events, to irresponsible tourism and coral mining.
What are we doing to help?
Despite all the threats facing coral reefs – there is still hope. Right now, a dedicated team is working away in Nusa Penida, the neighbouring island to Nusa Lembongan where the Women + Waves Bali Island Surf Camp takes place each year. Recently we sent a representative from Cornwall to Bali to work on the set up of our 2025 camps while in the islands, they visited the dive site with the experts to view the work carried out by the Mossy Earth team and see what the next steps are. The attached images are our findings.
From Rubble to Reef
The reef restoration project is located just off the coast, between the islands of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida, in a Marine Protected Area. This stunning spot, often visited by snorkelers and divers, is known for its exceptional natural beauty.
Between these two islands, world-class reef breaks roll over what were once vibrant, thriving coral reefs. The mission? To restore these reefs to their natural splendour and bring them back to life.
The marine life in this area is truly something to behold, from the graceful manta rays gliding overhead, to fish and turtles swimming through the crystal clear waters. As surfers, we may spend most of our time gliding over the top of the reefs, but there’s no denying the need to save this remarkable underwater world.
The Mossy Earth Indonesia Team, led by expert diver Yudi and Chansa, a marine biologist, run the Reef Restoration Project site. They have been doing incredible work to restore the reef after the destruction that the threats detailed above have wreaked on the environment. The once vibrant corals had been dying off in small groups known as ‘rubble areas’. Areas of dead or dying coral that end up being bleached and dying, leaving it devoid of colour or any living marine life. It is a sad sight to see, but it’s the reality that is being faced worldwide and especially in Indonesia. And that’s where the Mossy Earth Team comes in…
The scale of the reef restoration project is astounding, the team have been able to cover an area of 1,200 square metres and are already seeing incredible success and growth in the corals in that area on the newly installed structures. Iain who represented Women and Waves during the visit to the Mossy Earth work site had this to say;
“We sat talking at the dive site just before I got on my mask, put on my fins and jumped into the water. It was clear to see the passion that both Yudi and Chansa have for this project in the work they have managed to complete so far. You could see fish life and other marine animals coming back into the area that was previously rubble. This gave me a sense of hope that coral reefs can continue to live even after dying off with projects like this. Swimming around and watching the team work you can see the love and care in what they do, fixing small issues, reattaching coral in places and even going through the process of starting new areas and testing new methods. I watched them work for a little over an hour and I was in complete awe of this newly built coral reef that was bursting with life!”
Reef Restoration Goals
- Stabilise the substrate and encourage recolonisation of corals. The team plan to produce and install around 5,000 artificial reef restoration structures within rubble areas in 2024. Before the structures enter the water, they coat them in resin and sand to protect against erosion and promote coral attachment.
- Create source populations of corals within the rubble areas, attach 12-15 transplanted coral fragments onto each restoration structure. The coral fragments are loose pieces of coral that have naturally dislodged from a substrate due to environmental conditions, such as currents or fish. The team collect a range of coral fragments to ensure a suitable level of species diversity within the area.
- Reduce macro-algae locally to the reef structures and facilitate coral growth and establishment. The team regularly monitors the structures, not only to brush off any algae smothering the coral fragments, but also to visually inspect the health of the fragments as well as checking for calcium carbonate deposition.
These are the core goals of the project – but the team are not stopping there. They have been testing alternatives to plastic zip ties and working tirelessly to evolve methods that might not be working within the project. The passion and drive that Yudi and Chansa have for this project are inspiring, and here at Women + Waves we want to showcase this amazing work, share it with the world and get more people involved, not just to see the hard work that goes on behind the scenes, but to share the feeling that there is still hope if we work hard enough to find it.
Why it should matter to Surfers
For us as surfers, we rely on the waves and the vibrant marine life that reefs sustain. Women + Waves run surf trips all over the world, without the reefs trips like our Bali Island Surf Camp just wouldn’t be possible. So we know that we need to protect it at all costs. As ocean lovers, it’s our duty and honour to protect these fragile ecosystems that give us so much. By supporting reef restoration, we’re giving back to the ocean and ensuring that future generations can experience its beauty. Together, we can all play a part in keeping our reefs – and waves – alive.
How You Can Help
- Become a member of Mossy Earth and help support projects around the world like the Coral Reef Restoration Project
- Travel sustainably – either by yourself or with companies like Women + Waves who ensure all trips are run with as little impact on the environment as possible
- Gift a year’s membership as a Christmas present – give the gift of a thriving world! You can donate on behalf of your loved ones this Christmas to help restore nature.
- Take a Foundation Course in Rewilding and learn more about how you can support and help projects like these.
The passion, creativity, and relentless determination of the team on the ground is what drives this project forward, ensuring its success and inspiring change. Thanks to the support of Mossy Earth members, including Women + Waves, and all of you who’ll be joining us on the Bali Island Retreat, we’re not just making an impact here – we’re laying the foundation for something much bigger. Together, we can protect and restore this coral reef, and with time, extend that vision to safeguard coral reefs across Indonesia and beyond. The journey has just begun, and with each step, we’re shaping a brighter, more sustainable future for our oceans. Join us and become a part of this exciting movement!
