The Young Reporters for the Environment Journalism Competition is a way for students aged 11 – 25 to express themselves and be a voice for their environment through awareness, advocacy, or a solution-based submission. Students can submit their entries in 4 different ways: writing, photography, short film and podcast.

2025’s Theme was Ecosystem Restoration

Check out some of the amazing submissions created by Bermuda’s talented youth below:

Photography | Writing | Short Film

Photography

The Scars of Man

The scars of man. The beautiful picture of nature that our lord has given us is being mistreated. I took this image to show how biodiversity is ruined by the trash and waste created by mankind. It shows how the different species of trees, which provide humans with oxygen, and life to creatures around us, are being mistreated by man. As intelligent beings we should know better than this, but people just don’t care. They don’t think of the permanent consequences it puts on this earth. This is just a small, quiet cry surrounded by many others with no response yet. As an individual we can help reduce the amount of waste and trash we produce, and hope this will come to a end soon.

In The Webs

I chose this picture because it shows that there are so many exotic animals in the world that we don’t care about. Most spiders only live about 3 weeks to 2 years. This spider has been staying in this habitat for most of its life. This is one of the popular banana spiders in Bermuda. Many people here in Bermuda don’t see big banana spiders. I’ve visited this location many times, and I’ve found out that spider silk can be used for garments and fishing nets. This banana spider contributes to biodiversity and it also helps to maintain a base for the smaller animals as it was a predator to the dead lizard in its web.

The Tree of Life

This photo shows different plants living on a single tree. The tree provides a home in the habitat of the park. This explains biodiversity because the tree itself has different plants and animals living on it such as… ferns, small insects and sparrow birds. It show a mixture of different species on a single tree. I choose this photo because it proves that even small things can be homes.

Under and Bright

I took this picture because the bright yellow fruit stood out and caught my attention on how bright it is, as well as it looked different from all of its surroundings. My picture shows biodiversity by the way that it stands out from it habitat. Even though the brightness of this fruit shines the most, the biodiversity below is the most dense. The soil is a habitat for 59% of animals on earth, including microorganisms. So when you think about that, the bright fruit it’s only half the picture.

Full of Habitats

I chose these photos because it was a clear image of biodiversity. It captured multiple habitats in one small space. The first habitat I saw was a hibiscus bush. It was home to a bee and several ants. Looking further into the pictures, there are also mangroves, hanging tree moss, and the ocean. They are all habitats to many more animals and plants. Mangroves help Bermuda by storing carbon in their roots which diminishes carbon waste in the atmosphere. Below the roots of the mangroves I also found a beautiful upside down jellyfish.

Beauty in the Dark

I took this picture because it stood out in such a dark cave. This beautiful toad was the only animal in the cave with nothing but flowstone and many other rocks around it. This shows biodiversity because normally toads live in marshes and ponds but in this picture, this toad found its way into a dark cave. Toads contribute to the environment because they eat cockroaches and invasive bugs.

Seahorse’s Surprising Shelter

I took a picture of a seahorse (with neighboring crustaceans and sea life) on an old, dirty chain covered in barnacles at the Warwick marine science facility. I think that this shows biodiversity because this seahorse has reused this old chain and made it its home. I took this photo because I love seahorses and they are quite rare to see (this is the only one I’ve ever seen). Also, I found it fascinating that the seahorse had chosen to live on the chain, rather places such as seagrass beds, coral reefs, and mangroves (which are a seahorse’s usual habitats).

Pictures show the seahorse clinging on to a dirty,old chain.

Wings in the Wind

This picture was taken when I was at The Bermuda National Trust, Waterville. I feel this photo shows biodiversity because Bermuda inspires growth by planting trees and flowers. We should encourage the flowers in the environment because the more flowers, the more species of thriving butterflies. This means more food to help them survive. By planting trees and flowers it also encourages bees and other insects. This is important because without increased biodiversity the insects especially bees wouldn’t be able to pollinate the flora, and without flora, humans wouldn’t have oxygen.

Unseen Beauty

My photos shows biodiversity because it has many different species in it like birds and worms. I decided to take a picture from under the bush. Soon after that photo was taken I saw butterflies and bees. The flowers produce nectar and pollen for butterflies and bees.

So many people pass beautiful sights like this everyday and don’t give it a second thought.

Written Articles

Under the Surface: Restoring Bermuda’s Seagrass

Zoë Mir

It’s a July morning in Hamilton, Bermuda’s bustling capital. Tourists hop off a cruise ship, chatting and peering in storefront windows while dockworkers unload cargo and fishermen rest on the edge of a dock. Excited students, equipped with wet bags, masks, and fins, clamber aboard a motorboat, stuff their bags in the cabin, and rush to the front of the boat. As it passes the bright white sails of a summer sailing camp, the boat bounces up and down in the sun and heads for Burt Island, one site of an under-recognized project that aims to restore a mundane but crucial aspect of Bermuda’s ecosystem—with wide-ranging benefits.

On Burt Island, a 7.75-acre islet in the Great Sound, researchers are working to restore seagrass: flowering plants with extensive root systems that grow in underwater meadows. Bermuda’s four types of open-water seagrass most commonly grow in shallow water where they have access to sunlight and limited sedimentation. Though often overlooked, especially in comparison to vibrant coral reefs, there is a long list of reasons for protecting seagrass. The plants act as a nursery for small fish and crustaceans, are food for marine animals, and support fishing industries. They stabilize sediments and remove 10 percent of the ocean’s carbon dioxide annually—35 times the amount that the same area of rainforest removes—helping to combat global climate change. They encourage marine biodiversity and support other ecosystems like coral reefs and mangroves, benefitting tourism. In total, seagrass is estimated to be worth $50,655 per hectare per year by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, making Bermuda’s approximately 1,600 hectares worth $81,048,000 per year.

Alarmingly, seagrass populations in Bermuda have been declining at an accelerating rate since the 1990s. Though the beds have been monitored for more than 20 years, a combination of causes, including their natural movement, can make it difficult to identify a sole problem, local researchers say. Instead, the local and global decline of seagrass populations are likely due to a combination of causes. Boat anchors and propellors, pollution and sedimentation, land creation, shoreline development, dredging, and overfishing impact seagrass, destroying existing beds and potential new habitats. Climate change also hurts seagrass, and seagrass populations will continue to decline with increased global warming. Overgrazing of seagrass by turtles is another problem. Bermuda specifically has seen an increase in turtles, thanks to the important work of the Bermuda Turtle Project, but with human overfishing of predators like sharks in Bermuda and at turtle breeding grounds in the Caribbean and Florida, the turtle population and the amount of time turtles spend grazing is uncontrolled by natural predators, further damaging seagrass.

Waterstart, an environmental and educational organization based on Burt Island, is one of the groups working to protect and restore seagrass in Bermuda. An important part of Waterstart’s seagrass effort involves participation of local students and community members through camps, classes, and collaborations with programs like the Bermuda Youth Climate Summit. Imogen Peckett got involved with Waterstart at age 11 and has been a student, volunteer, intern, and staff member. She is now a graduate student in England at the University of Bristol’s program in Science Communication for a Better Planet. “The earlier we start learning about these ecosystems,” says Peckett, “the more we understand how we are connected to them and how much of an impact we can have.”

Turtle exclusion cages, provided by the Bermuda Government’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources as part of the Bermuda Seagrass Project, have been placed around Bermuda to prevent overgrazing by turtles and allow seagrass to recover. At Burt Island, students have helped secure cages in the water since 2019, and they also monitor seagrass growth. The simple but sturdy frames have proved effective. Students, like Peckett, have collected data on the amount and species of seagrass as well as the types of marine life found in it. “When young people get hands-on experience with restoration, they gain real-world knowledge and confidence, and they see that their actions matter,” Peckett says. “You don’t have to be a scientist to make a difference and young people especially have the power to shape a more hopeful future.”

The contributions of students in building cages and collecting underwater data are real, JP Skinner, Waterstart’s Executive Director, told me when I visited him on Burt Island recently. “The amazing thing is that over the course of the last year or two, [the seagrass] has really come back. … It’s nice to see, even in this local bit of Burt Island, what was a desert of sand come back to a forest of seagrass. It has been really encouraging.”

Ten miles away, in Harrington Sound, I also visited Trunk Island, another home to turtle exclusion cages, to talk to researchers with the Bermuda Zoological Society (BZS) about their seagrass restoration efforts. While I investigated seagrass in the shallow-water exclusion cages, the BZS’s middle school science club and Bermuda’s governor were also on Trunk, learning about the island’s many conservation efforts. The seagrass around Trunk is thriving within the cages, but it has not spread beyond them, like the seagrass at Burt Island has. BZS staff members are hopeful that their involvement of hundreds of students will help conservation efforts like seagrass restoration to expand, but global awareness and action is also necessary, says Dr. Alex Amat, the Lead Education Officer at the BZS. “We can do everything we can to help the seagrass, and we need to, but it doesn’t mean that we’re going to be able to restore them if we don’t restore global conditions. … We have to act on [the threats to seagrass] on a global level.”

Burt Island and Trunk Island represent just two examples of the efforts Bermuda is making to care for these key parts of our ecosystems. “Seagrass beds may not be as flashy as coral reefs, but they’re just as important,” says Peckett. “For an island that depends so deeply on its ocean ecosystems—culturally, ecologically, and economically—restoring seagrass is really about restoring balance.”

Sources:

https://environment.bm/seagrass-beds#:~:text=Bermuda%20Seagrass%20Species&text=Four%20of%20these%20are%20open,Halophila%20decipiens%20(paddle%20grass).

https://www.seaturtlestatus.org/articles/2024/2/13/the-rise-and-fall-of-green-turtles-and-seagrasses-in-bermuda#:~:text=Seagrasses%20are%20in%20trouble%20worldwide,at%20least%20the%20late%201990s.

https://oceanographicmagazine.com/features/bermuda-seagrass/

https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/issue-briefs/2019/10/healthy-seagrass-forms-underwater-meadows-that-harbor-diverse-marine-life#:~:text=A%20single%20acre%20of%20seagrass,such%20as%20lobsters%20and%20shrimp.&text=More%20than%20100%20times%20as,as%20on%20adjacent%20bare%20sand.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zfxqjsg#zbst6g8

https://climate-wise.com/Projects/bermuda-seagrass-project/

https://www.bermuda-online.org/islands.htm

https://waterstartbermuda.org/burt-island/

www.google.com/maps

Dissemination:

https://www.instagram.com/zoe_f_mir/

Saving Our World Through Ecosystem Restoration

Alessia Vianello

What is Ecosystem restoration? How can we help? What is Bermuda doing to help? These are all questions that will be answered in this article. Our world is begging us to help so we need to do something. We can’t keep living like this. Please read to the end of the article to find out how you can make a difference.

Ecosystem Restoration

Ecosystem restoration means helping in the recovery of ecosystems that have been destroyed. To restore an ecosystem, you need to know what it was like before it was ruined. Ecosystems can be as small as a tree trunk or as big as a tropical rainforest. All types of ecosystems can be restored, we just need to put effort into saving the world.

How Can We Help?

There are many ways to help with ecosystem restoration. Whether it’s as small as picking up a piece of trash every day or as big as organizing beach cleanups anything counts. There are also a few organizations around Bermuda that help. For example KBB (Keep Bermuda Beautiful) does monthly clean-ups and they have made a big difference in our community.

What Is Bermuda Doing To Help?

One way that Bermuda is helping ecosystem restoration is the Bermuda Seagrass Project (BSP). The BSP is a project to increase the amount of seagrass that we have in the ocean. “Between 1997 and 2004, almost half of Bermuda’s offshore seagrass beds declined. Another culprit has contributed towards further declines in recent years: the green turtle.” (Bermuda Seagrass Project – Climate Wise) The solution was to have cages designed to protect the seagrass and the turtle can have part of the seagrass, but not enough to affect the growth of the seagrass. This lets the seagrass flower and produce seeds that would spread out to increase the seagrass population. There has been 354 cages placed bringing the total area protected to 19,000m2.

Citations:

Bermuda Seagrass Project – Climate Wise

www.Idn-lb.org

What is Ecosystem Restoration? | UN Decade on Restoration

A beginner’s guide to ecosystem restoration

Ecosystem Restoration: Restoring This Beautiful Planet

Allan Mar Anthony Tan

Ecosystem restoration “the process of repairing sites in nature whose biological communities (that is, interacting groups of various species in a common location) and ecosystems have been degraded or destroyed.”. There is quite a bit of examples in Bermuda supporting causes like restoring our prized and precious mangroves, people helping with our expansive beautiful coral reefs, and organizations getting rid of grievous and troublesome invasive species which counts as they remove species that destroy our environment. Every forest, continent, and nation on this planet has an issue they need to solve and if not, then they are lucky. Ecosystem restoration is a topic often overlooked but vital to the success of our civilization. So, let’s educate ourselves on ecosystem restoration.

Before we dive in you may be wondering why this may be a vital subject to cover and to do that, we must look at some information. Now first point “Rewilding 350 million hectares of degraded terrestrial and aquatic habitats could generate US$9 trillion in ecosystem services and remove nearly 26 gigatons of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.”. Let’s put this into perspective quickly. A gigaton is about one billion metric tons, since 1940 to 2024 we have released over thirty-seven billion metric tons of greenhouse gases. Twenty-seven over thirty-seven as a percentage is 72.2%. This means that ecosystem restoration can get rid of 72.2% of our excess greenhouse gas emissions since 1940.

You may be wondering why this may matter. First thing, there will be a loss of biodiversity as more animals lose their habitats. According to a couple of reliable sources, 30 to 50% of all animal species may be extinct by 2050 due to causes such as habitat loss, climate change, and pollution. There are approximately 2.16 million species of animals. After some division that is 648 thousand to 1.08 million species gone by 2025, that is only in 25 years. Second, our forests, wetlands, grasslands, and much more absorb greenhouse gases. Right now, the planet has a concerning amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The reason for another huge and major issue, climate change. Temperatures have risen by 7.2°F or 4°C in some areas, and as mentioned by multiple trustworthy sources “Between 1992 and 2020, the polar ice sheets lost 7560 billion tons of ice,”. Now why does climate change matter? We are an island and according to multiple sources, Bermuda may be underwater in 50 to 100 years. Finally, soil degression which is a decline in soil quality. This means the quality of our crops such as wheat used to make bread will be of less quality and will be produced less.

Despite all the consequences and how scared we might be, we are the reason for it. We are the ones chopping our forests, burning oil and coal to produce our energy, and the ones who destroyed this planet to sustain our needs. Bermuda already has set out organizations such as Bermuda National Trust, Living Reefs Foundation, Bermuda Lionfish Forces, and significantly more examples on this precious and beautiful island we can call home. You don’t have to be part of an organization to help. There are many things you can do to assist everyone in making a better planet. You can plant some trees but please, no invasive species, you can pick up trash and other pollutive items, and you can reduce carbon levels by using less electricity use like turning off unnecessary light switches which in turn means less demand for power plants. Anyone can help, just play your part. Ecosystem Restoration, restoring our remarkable civilization.

Citations:

Government of Bermuda – Protecting the Environment | Government of Bermuda

Global CO2 emissions by year 1940-2024 | Statista,

Ecological restoration | Definition, Characteristics, Examples & Facts | Britannica,

How many species are there? – Our World in Data,

Quotes

Here’s How Much Land We Need to Rewild in The Next 10 Years to Save The Planet : ScienceAlert

Shrinking Ice Sheets

Ecosystem Restoration: In Bermuda and All Over the Globe

Alyanna Alayon

What is Ecosystem Restoration?

Ecosystem Restoration is when you help degraded and destroyed ecosystems recover. Ecosystem Restoration helps improve the livelihoods of people who depend on them. Without ecosystem restoration, we would lose over one million varied species in the next few decades. Ecosystem restoration is not easy but together we can do it.

How will Ecosystem Restoration Impact the world?

Ecosystem restoration has a significant impact on the world. It can help address global issues like climate change. Climate change is a big threat to the world and with ecosystem restoration we can help cool down the world. Restoring degraded ecosystems can have significant economic and environmental benefits.

How Can We Perform Ecosystem Restoration?

Well, you can start off by planting trees. Trees help filter the air and will help with climate change. There are also other things you can do like pick up trash, use solar power, use more natural fertilizer and pest control, and many more. You could also support Ecosystem Restoration Projects. Like KBB (Keep Bermuda Beautiful), The Bermuda Seagrass Project, and The Nonsuch Expeditions Project.

How Will Ecosystem Restoration Impact Bermuda?

Well ecosystem restoration in Bermuda helps to restore balance in the marine ecosystems. Seagrass and mangrove restoration programs help increase protected species and biodiversity. Coral reefs also play a crucial role in protecting our island from storms. We only have one planet that has everything we need. And we need to do everything we can do to help it survive.

Citations:

The Bermuda Seagrass Project

Volume Harvested, 1900 to 2015 – Forest Trends – Evergreen Alliance

‘Eco-Index’ can guide the way toward restoring ecosystems to boost biodiversity as an urgent priority – Department of Forest and Environment Economics – Sokoine University of Agriculture

Ecosystem Restoration: Importance and Approches of Restoration – Forestry Blog

Techtalk Reviving Bermuda’s Ecosystems

Eco-System Restoration Effects in Bermuda and Around the World

Briella Nicolau

My topic is about eco-system restoration and how it affects Bermuda. Eco-System Restoration can also happen in many different ways such as planting a lot and removing pressure so that nature can recover on its own. Restoration means helping for the recovery of ecosystems that have been damaged or destroyed. Restoration drive can be taken care of by almost anyone, for example governments and businesses, there are different types of communities and some specifically raise money to help take care of restoration and individuals who have free time that want to help. This is because the causes of degradation are varied and can have different impacts. Eco-system restoration can happen in forests, farmlands, cities, wetlands and oceans including Bermuda and that’s where the article is focused on. The purpose of this article is to recreate or help with the recovery of an ecosystem that has been disturbed or interrupted. Disturbances can be environmental that changes an ecosystem structure and function. The most common things that happen that can ruin an ecosystem that can occur are logging, damming rivers, intense grazing, hurricanes, floods, and fires.

Eco system restoration is important to learn about because conserving ecosystems is very important in trying to restore biodiversity loss. It is necessary to learn about this topic because eco systems are living organisms such as plants, animals, and microbe’s homes and if we ruin their eco systems they will no longer have a home to live in. Evidence that shows that eco systems are getting destroyed is that ecosystem restoration is pivotal to tackling climate change and species extinction together.

Bermuda is taking part in eco system restoration by restoring our mangroves to help with eco system restoration. Bermuda’s mangroves are the trees from dense coastal and the groves in low lying, and there salty coastal and muddy areas of the island. There are two different types of mangroves, and they are the black and the red mangrove . More ways you can help take part in eco system restoration are to reduce tillage, participating in science projects, converting your home to renewable energy, and you can plant native species in your free time.

Sources:

https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/what-ecosystem-restoration

Mangroves — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Ecosystem Restoration

Cassandra Mayers

Bermuda is currently facing climate change, plastic pollution, loss of sea grass, loss of some species, and even overfishing in lots of areas. If we don’t start now, we could loose more than 1 million species in the next few decades. By ecosystem restoration we can help these problems come to an end. First off, we can start by knowing what ecosystem restoration is and some solutions to fixing these problems. Some solutions to fixing these problems are planting more trees and plants, using more reusable and recyclable materials and items, and reducing the amount of CO2 pollute into the air we breathe. So, we can use ecosystem restoration as a solution for these problems.

What is Ecosystem Restoration and how can we fix these problems?

Ecosystem restoration is “assisting the recovery of an ecosystem the has been damaged or destroyed over time”. Ecosystem Restoration is one of the ways we can help our Earth recover and be healthy and happy. Planting more trees and plants, using more reusable and recyclable materials and items, and reducing the amount of CO2 we pollute into the air are effective ways to save the Earth because, planting trees can lead to more oxygen and trees also store carbon, when there is to much carbon in the air. Using more reusable and recyclable materials can lead to reducing the amount of plastic pollution in the air which means that there are less animals dying and becoming extinct. Another solution is reducing the use of CO2 that we pollute into the air, we can do that by making more electric cars and designing a better trash disposal instead of an incinerator and polluting the air around us. All these solutions will help the air around us be cleaner and help us and all animals.

What are people doing in Bermuda and how is it effecting the ecosystems?

People in Bermuda are currently organizing groups and activities to pick up trash from parks, the government is releasing laws to protect different plant and animal species, and Bermuda is selling more electric cars. Our Aquatic, forest, and wetland ecosystems are being endangered by pollution and climate change. So, ecosystem restoration is a great solution for more healthy environments and for animals and our health too. If we don’t act now, we could lose a lot more animal and plant species in Bermuda. So, start saving our ecosystems for our island to be happier and healthier.

Sources:

Kids.Earth.org

www.nationalgeographic.com

Picture Sources

https://imengine.editorial.prod.rgb.navigacloud.com/?uuid=e5940308-4394-5656-a90b-1fc96cd9369d&type=primary&function=cover&source=false&width=800

www.vintagetreecare.com

https://dynamic.tourtravelworld.com/hotspot-images/spittal-pond-nature-reserve-1941.jpg

Eco-system Restoration

Claran D’Sousa

Eco-system restoration is a process of recovering ecosystems that are destroyed. My topic is about eco-system restoration and its causes to Bermuda. Scientists, conservationists, local communities, governments and international organizations play a role in trying to restore ecosystems. Eco system restoration can be involved in agriculture areas or farmland, wetlands, and coastal and urban areas. Eco-system restoration can be focused on mangroves, grasslands, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. It can also be focused on global priority areas, research and activism and it can be focused on regions. The purpose of this article is to explain what eco-system restoration is and where and when it can be focused.

Eco system restoration is very important because it can prevent further environmental damage and ensures that the future generation can enjoy natural resources, because if we don’t take care of our natural resources now there can be catastrophic events in the future regarding our food or any other resources. Eco-system can be a good thing for plants and people because it protects the livelihoods of people who depend on ecosystems. The evidence explains my point because it can happen if we don’t control what’s happening now. Eco-system restoration is necessary because it can be important for ecological balance and supporting human life. If we don’t take it seriously, human life can be in danger. The evidence explains my point because if we don’t restore our ecosystem there can be problems.

There are so many ways of recovering our ecosystems, for example Bermuda is trying to restore the hungry bay mangroves. We can all help restore the Bermuda mangroves by not tying up boats next to mangroves and helping clean up trash Dr. Smith recommends doing this by saying “We all have to work together and whether you do it next week, next month, next decade, start teaching your kids to think about the environment” (Bermudian.com) If we don’t do this our Bermuda mangrove might disappear in the future.

Sources for Picture

Rewinding Academy

Sources for the pictures

Rewinding Academy
EcoRestore.com
Vecteezy.com

Sources for the article

Thebermudian.com
Unipec.org

Coral Reef Crisis: Can We Save Corals Before They Are Gone For Good?

Chloe Burns

Ever since I was old enough to understand what climate change was, I’ve been told my generation was going to save the world. Coral reefs, one of Earth’s most vital ecosystems are dying at a rapid rate but to understand why we need to understand what corals are and why they are important. Corals are animals of the phylum Cnidaria and are marine invertebrates that live in large colonies of polyps that form massive calcium carbonate skeletons called coral reefs and even though you might not realize it almost every person on earth benefits from them. Coral reefs protect coasts from storm surge, create jobs, provide a food source, increase tourism and are a source for new medicines. Additionally they are home to around 25% of all marine biodiversity despite only covering 0.01% of the ocean floor. Coral reefs are not just important for us but for millions of other organisms and they are dying and in vital need of restoration so, what can we do to help?

Human presence in the oceans has only increased the frequency of damage to corals. Visitors to the reef may accidentally cause damage that will take the reef years to recover from. This could be due to collisions while snorkeling or diving or through the intentional removal or coral as a souvenir. However due to our need for efficiency large areas of reefs have been cleared to deepen boat channels and shorten shipping routes. This destroys reefs as a whole or disrupts the currents that many organisms rely on. As a society we need to do better and work towards more sustainable ways of interacting with earth’s ecosystems.

Our corals face many threats that harm the corals themselves and the ecosystem as a whole and bleaching is one of the most severe. Due to climate change the oceans are heating up and just a two degree increase can cause the zooxanthellae algae which gives corals their vibrant colour and provides nutrients to die, leaving just the white calcium carbonate skeleton. This causes the coral to expel the algae effectively causing the coral to starve and eventually die.

Pollution is another major threat. Plastic litters over 97% of our reefs which smothers corals and limits the algae’s ability to photosynthesis, limiting their ability to grow and reproduce. The fishing industry is a large part of this as most fishing gear is not biodegradable that can entangle and injure coral and marine life. Additionally agricultural runoff from fertilizers into our oceans is causing increased algal blooms that smoother and kill corals by blocking their access to sunlight. Furthermore toxic chemicals from industrial and domestic waste can increase corals susceptibility to disease and decrease reproduction and growth rates which all harms the ecosystem as a whole.

However, coral gardening gives our reefs another chance. Coral gardening involves taking small fragments ofdamaged corals and regrowing them before transplanting them back onto the reefs. This also gives us the opportunity to better research corals and help us understand them to create effective conservation strategies.

The fishing industry has a major impact on our reefs biodiversity as overfishing and pollution threatens the stability of the whole ecosystem causing damage or the death of marine animals. However this industry supports over three billion people so advocating for sustainable fishing is crucial, look for the marine stewardship council logo on your seafood to support sustainable fisheries and keep up to date on the most sustainable species on their website.

Eco friendly initiatives must come from the government which is why it is vital to know which candidates prioritize these pressing issues. To save our reefs we need to move away from fossil fuels, reduce the usage of single use plastic, enforce sustainable fishing practices and expand protected reef areas. As individuals we need to support those who push to save not just our reefs but all of earth’s ecosystems. We can also research and volunteer with what is being done locally and contact our local representatives to express support for those initiatives.

Restoring our reefs is too challenging for one person to handle but collectively we can make a difference. We can use less fertilizers in our gardens even miles from the coast because eventually all water leads back to the ocean. When in the ocean we can be mindful of the reefs and wear reef friendly sunscreen to reduce harmful chemicals in the water. Finally we can all volunteer and help raise awareness because the more people who know about these issues the more people will care and any help you can give to organizations protecting our planet makes a difference and helps minimize the damage we cause.

Without our help experts best estimates say that in the next 70 years corals could be gone completely and 70 – 90% of coral could be gone in the next 20. This will cause 25% of marine biodiversity to lose their homes and most likely die out resulting in the loss of a major global food source that will mainly affect low income communities.

Our reefs are in danger and we need to fix this now or our oceans and our planet as a whole will suffer, it doesn’t matter if you live 200 miles from the ocean or right next to it, the effects of this loss will be felt globally by every organism and it’s our fault. However, luckily for us we have the opportunities and the knowledge to fix this. Our reefs are not less important than every day convenience and the lives of the animals who live on them aren’t any less important than ours so make the effort to help our reefs no matter how far you live from them.

Lets not let future generations live with only the skeletons of what was once the most vibrant ecosystem of earth and even though we have a long way to go we have solutions to help us start to rebuild our coral reefs through collective global efforts.

Sources

The Nature Conservancy. “8 Easy Ways You Can Help Coral Reefs.” Nature, The Nature Conservancy, www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/protect-water-and-land/land-and-water-stories/8-easy-ways-you-can-help-coral-reefs/.
NOAA Ocean Service. “Restoring Corals.” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_corals/coral15_restoring-corals.html
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “Threats to Coral Reefs.” EPA, www.epa.gov/coral-reefs/threats-coral-reefs.
International Coral Reef Initiative. “Status of and Threat to Coral Reefs.” ICRI, icriforum.org/about-coral-reefs/status-of-and-threat-to-coral-reefs/
“Sustainable Tourism Management in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.” The Economist Impact, https://impact.economist.com/ocean/biodiversity-ecosystems-and-resources/sustainable-tourism-management-in-the-great-barrier-reef-marine-park-a .
“Coral Reefs and Overfishing: A Dangerous Combination.” GVI Blog, www.gvi.co.uk/blog/smb-coral-reefs-and-overfishing-a-dangerous-combination/.
Coral Guardian. “About Coral Guardian.” Coral Guardian, www.coralguardian.org/en/about-coral-guardian/#section-2.
Sinclair-Taylor, Tane. “Plastic Is Suffocating Coral Reefs—and It’s Not Just Bottles and Bags.” NPR, 12 July 2023, www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/07/12/1187261701/plastic-is-suffocating-coral-reefs-and-its-not-just-bottles-and-bags.
“Is Farmed Fish a Healthy Source of Protein?” EIT Food, www.eitfood.eu/blog/is-farmed-fish-a-healthy-source-of-protein/.
“Everything You Need to Know About Coral Bleaching and How We Can Stop It.” World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/pages/everything-you-need-to-know-about-coral-bleaching-and-how-we-can-stop-it.
“Unprecedented 3 Years of Global Coral Bleaching (2014–2017).” NOAA Climate, www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/unprecedented-3-years-global-coral-bleaching-2014%E2%80%932017.

Our Ecosystems Need Our Help NOW!

Eva Vieira

When I first started examining ecosystem restoration, I had no idea what it even was or why he thought it was important to write about. You might have thought the same thing when you read the title but after diving down a rabbit hole of research, I now understand why this topic needs our attention immediately. Before I get into how ecosystem restoration can help our planet and Bermuda, let’s learn what ecosystem restoration even is! The basic purpose of ecosystem restoration is to create a healthy environment for humans and other organisms to live. The healthier our ecosystems the healthier the planet and its people are too. Do you understand why this topic need everyone’s attention now too? Our lives literally depend on healthy ecosystems.

Ecosystems can be large like a forest or as small as a pond, but all are equally important because they improve the lives of people. We all rely on ecosystems to provide us with food, water, building supplies and even medicine. Ecosystems can also help control diseases and reduce the threat of natural disasters. However, in the last few years our needs as humans have grown so drastically, they are pushing these systems to their tipping point. All kinds of ecosystems can be rebuilt including forests, farmlands, wetlands, and oceans. Some ecosystems can be restored quite quickly, while others might take more time. Sadly, not all ecosystems can recover to their former state because the human impact has been too great. It is also unlikely that an ecosystem will recover naturally without intervention and so that is where we come in.

Ecosystem restoration needs to happen on every continent and in every ocean on the planet and it needs to happen now. Larger restoration projects, like the Everglades Project takes $2billion and a team of experts to complete, and this might feel so far away from how you can help. However, there are so many ways as individuals can help here in Bermuda, with no money at all. How can you help? Great question! We can conserve water, follow the three R’s (reduce, reuse and recycle), volunteer for cleanups at KBB, save energy at home, walk, bike or even plant a tree. Last years KBB costal cleanup removed 15,410 pounds of trash from our ocean. Having cleaner oceans creates a heathy marine ecosystem. It also protects our wildlife, plant life, waterways and soil from toxic and dangerous chemicals that they shouldn’t be exposed to. This is huge step in helping our marine life ecosystem and it costs you nothing but your Saturday afternoon.

If we want our planet and lives to continue as we know it today, we all need to start making these changes now!

Sources:

bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=c024ce6703bafa4f015bb8f022583b9392ab37b5a656fd2bda72ad846ed6f5a4JmltdHM9MTc0MzQ2NTYwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=2fbb737b-c039-6537-1e48-6799c1c9644e&psq=kbb+bermuda&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cua2JiLmJtLw&ntb=1

The What, Why, and How of Ecosystem Restoration | World Resources Institute

Restoration Program Overview — Everglades Restoration Initiatives

UN Decade on Restoration

Sources for photos:

https://forestrybloq.com/ecosystem-restoration-importance-and-approaches-of-restoration/

http://ldn-lb.org/news/restoring-biodiversity-and-ecosystem-services

https://visitapp.org/experience/learn-about-life-underwater-and-life-on-land-to-develop-sustainable-habits

Bermuda Underwater by 2050

Jesdin Desilva

Bermuda could be underwater by 2050, with scientists warning that rising sea levels threaten thousands of coastal cities worldwide. People, animals, buildings, and plant life will all be in danger if the sea level rises too quickly. One of the biggest reasons for this is human activity—especially the excessive use of fossil fuels and transportation.

Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the sun, warming the planet. As the Earth heats up, so does the ocean, causing it to expand. Additionally, higher temperatures melt glaciers and ice caps, adding even more water to the ocean. This combination leads to rising sea levels, putting places like Bermuda at serious risk.

If we act now, we can protect Bermuda and other coastal regions from disappearing beneath the waves. Simple actions—like driving less, saving electricity, and switching to clean energy such as solar, wind, and hydro power—can make a huge difference. By making these changes, we can help ensure that future generations live in a sustainable world.

One of the biggest drivers of rising sea levels is the increase in greenhouse gases. These gases—carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and ozone—trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, leading to climate change. Too many greenhouse gases cause global warming, which results in melting ice caps, stronger storms, and rising sea levels. When these gases are emitted near the ocean, the water absorbs them, causing further warming and expansion.

The time to act is now. Every small change we make—reducing emissions, protecting natural habitats, and using cleaner energy—helps slow down rising sea levels and protect our planet for future generations.

In conclusion, the people of Bermuda need to take a stand and protect the environment. If we don’t act now, things could get worse for the planet. By making better choices today, we can help create a cleaner, safer world for all future generations to come.

Not Giving Up: The Story of the Cahow and Nonsuch Island

Julia Stoppa

We are polluting and destroying ecosystems. Oceans, filling up with plastic. Forests, almost treeless. Animals lose their homes. But there is a solution. If we don’t give up, we can change the course our earth is going through and we can restore the ecosystems. But what exactly is ecosystem restoration?

Ecosystem restoration is the process of making the ecosystem return to its natural or healthy state. The state before the damage, human error or natural disaster. Ecosystem restoration may take a long time before it reaches its healthy state, it is also not easy. The first step of restoring one is to remove what causes damage and any other threats. This could be an invasive species, trash or other problems. Then after removing the threats, it depends. Sometimes the ecosystem’s soil must be improved and then some plants and animals which are native are reintroduced to balance out the ecosystem. Sometimes it can be more complicated. We need ecosystem restoration because each ecosystem is important to the world. If we leave the ecosystems in their degraded state, plants and animals might die, some might go extinct.

Ecosystem restoration happens all over the world. And a few happened here, in Bermuda. I picked one story about ecosystem restoration to write about, one that was special to me. It’s the successful story of the cahow and Nonsuch Island. It stuck with me for lots of reasons. When I was little, in school, we would watch the cam that was placed in a cahow burrow. We saw how the pair of cahows come in and out of the burrow and when the female cahow laid an egg. Then, around March we saw an incredible thing, the egg hatched, and we saw a cute, fluffy, gray ball. A cahow chick. Later I learnt about Dr. Windgate, the hero that saved the cahow population. And suddenly something really great happened when me and my family went to a presentation about seabirds in the Bermuda zoo. I remember when they announced that Dr. Windgate was sitting in the front row, listening to the man’s presentation about seabirds. After the presentation, my mom asked a lady that worked at the zoo if I could meet Dr. Windgate. She agreed and brought me to him, and she introduced me. I talked a little with Dr. Windgate, very happy that I met him. But why was he a hero?

This story goes back in time, when Bermuda was first discovered by Portuguese and Spanish navigators. They didn’t want to land on Bermuda, they didn’t even know such an island, but due to the storms at sea the ships ended up in Bermuda’s reefs. The survivors came onto the land and when darkness fell, they were afraid of the nocturnal cahows, thinking they were evil spirits. So, they named Bermuda ‘The Isle of Devils’. When the year 1609 came, the British accidentally landed in Bermuda. That is when the cahow was in danger, when the people were building their homes, it changed the land which made it unsuitable for the cahows to make their burrows underground. Not only people but rats that were accidentally introduced, and the cats and dogs that were brought, ate the cahow’s eggs and chicks. And after that the cahow was thought to be extinct.

Moving forward, around the 1900-1970’s several cahows remains were found. That is when a search expedition for living cahows was set up by Dr. Cushman and Louis S. Mowbray in 1951. A schoolboy, David Windgate, was a part of the expedition that rediscovered the cahow. He decided that he wanted a career to save the cahow. Also, he had an idea to restore Nonsuch Island to its pre-colonial condition. The work wasn’t at all easy, but he didn’t give up and between 1963 and 1972 Dr. Wingate planted more than 8,000 trees and woody shrubs. Along with the flora, there was the fauna. Dr. Windgate started the project to reintroduce the green turtle. With lots of help a total of 16,00 green turtles were hatched and were released on a beach on Nonsuch Island with the hope that they will return fully mature to breed on the beaches they were born on. There was another successful story, about the yellow crowned night heron, who ate the land crabs on Nonsuch when flying over. Dr. Windgate decided that if he makes the night herons breed in Bermuda, it might help that night herons will eat the land crabs that are said to be pests on lawns and golf courses. And so, when they reintroduced the night heron, it helped not only by controlling the land crabs but by saving some of the rarest plants on the island because the land crabs would destroy them without a predator. There were lots of other projects as well. When he thought of a new idea, a goal, he worked towards it, and despite the challenges he didn’t give up. That way he achieved many.

Now Nonsuch Island is a wonderful, native forest with cedars, native plants and teeming with wildlife. Thousands of visitors visit the island annually, learning about the story and the restoring of the ecosystem. Dr. Windgate achieved a really great thing. Bermuda is also achieving awesome things. Bermuda is right now restoring ecosystems like seagrass and Eve’s Pond Reserve.

We can too help restore ecosystems, helping them to get back to their healthy state and making the world a better place. There are projects we can do like raising awareness about the problem of degraded and polluted ecosystems. Or like joining beach-cleanups to help our ocean and the animals and plants that might eat or get stuck in trash. We can plant trees and other plants in our backyard and way more. We can restore ecosystems if we don’t give up.

Sources:

A beginner’s guide to ecosystem restoration
One Man’s Lifelong Passion: The Cahow & Nonsuch Island – The Bermudian Magazine
“Nonsuch Summer” book by Janet Windgate
https://www.bermuda-attractions.com/bermuda2_i00021e.jpg

Ecosystem Restoration And Why It’s Important

Leandro Rovoredo

Ecosystem restoration means assisting in the recovery of ecosystems that have been destroyed. It is also conserving the ecosystems that are still alive. This is important because it gives us a chance to stop and reverse ecosystem degradation. Examples are revegetation – the establishment of vegetation on sites where it has been previously lost, and habitat enhancement – the process of increasing the suitability of a site as a habitat. The IUCN has members around the world trying to help with ecosystem restoration. The first American ecosystem restoration project was started in 1907 by Eloise Butler in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

It is necessary because it effectively halts ecosystem degradation. And it improves ecosystem services and recovers biodiversity. And it delivers nature based solutions for food insecurity, climate change, and biodiversity loss. And healthier ecosystems yield greater benefits such as fertile soils, timber, fish, and greenhouse gas storage. And it helps repair the damage caused by human activity and protects all life on earth.

Bermuda is introducing strategies for the restoration of seagrass and mangroves. People can help with ecosystem restoration by recreating “disturbance regimes that encourage historical succession patterns, saving biodiversity and managing land suitability”, participating in UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, Integrating the values, priorities, motivations and influences of all groups, working on restoration ecology to fix damaged ecosystems and increase biodiversity.

Sources:

A beginner’s guide to ecosystem restoration

Saving Bermuda’s Intertidal Forests – The Bermudian Magazine

The What, Why, and How of Ecosystem Restoration | World Resources Institute

Restoration and repair of Earth’s damaged ecosystems | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Saving The Planet Saves Us

Reese McAlpine

Ecosystem restoration may be the single most important calling for our generation! As a young writer I wanted to spread awareness of this important topic across to the school so that other kids my age can have a better understanding of the problems going on in our world and encourage them to take action. “Ecosystem restoration is the process of aiding the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged, or destroyed”. It helps restore biodiversity, enhances ecosystem services, and improves the overall health and sustainability of our environment. Such efforts can benefit many different ecosystems including those found in forests, farmlands, wetlands and bodies of water. Helping to restore our ecosystems can be fulfilled by everyone from governments and development agencies to businesses, communities and individuals.

Restoring our ecosystems is particularly important for many reasons. The degradation of ecosystems leads to pollution, deforestation, climate change, loss of biodiversity and risks to human health and communities. This can cause our beautiful planet to be destroyed and cause more than 1 million of our species to become extinct in the next few decades. This will have a negative impact on our food chains and other long-term effects on our planet. As ecosystems weaken plants and soils release carbon instead of storing it. Every living thing needs carbon to survive but the more that is released into the air, the greater the negative impact on our atmosphere. Which means it is necessary for us to protect soil (which gives us 95% of our food), plants and oceans from pollution, pesticides, climate change and other harmful things. Healthier ecosystems can also give us a bigger yield with greater benefits such as fertile soils, healthy forests, plentiful wildlife, and the reduction of greenhouse gases, which are all things we as people and animals require for a healthier world to live in. Animals will also be given safer homes and more food which will help them grow in population and size, allowing humans to rely on them for food.

In Bermuda there are many organizations helping with the island’s ecosystems restoration initiatives including the government as well as public and private institutions. For example, the Bermuda government has launched various initiatives including an update to the Endangered Plants and Animals Act to create stronger protections for Bermuda’s plants and wildlife. BIOS is a non-governmental organization, which studies the ocean and the changes that are occurring, report to the government, the public and other organizations to work together to provide solutions to help preserve and replenish wildlife, particularly our oceans. Another similar organization is BZS (Bermuda Zoological Society) which has several important projects, including the creation of a red mangrove forest on Trunk Island which contributes to critical habitat restoration. There are also volunteer organizations that you and your family can help contribute to restoring our ecosystems including KBB (Keep Bermuda Beautiful) that help with garbage clean ups and recovering sunken boats. Given the state of our planet, it is urgent that we act now to make a difference so that we can stop our bad habits we are carelessly doing. There are also many other ways we can all do that don’t take much to do but will make a huge difference. Including growing more trees and diverse crops in your backyard, using more natural fertilizer and pest control, convert your home to use renewable energy sources or even petitioning to your local representatives to make a change on behalf of ecosystems and biodiversity. I hope whoever reads this can take away the important message that we should always try to care for our environment and wildlife to help keep Bermuda and our Earth beautiful. We must also continue to inform future generations about the importance of preserving our environment.

Sources:

www.decadeonrestoration.org, bios.asu.edu, www.thebermudian.com, defenders.org

Coral Reefs at Risk of Extinction

DID YOU KNOW, by 2050 the world is at risk of losing about a MILLION animal species FOREVER? Hi, my name is Ryan Renaud, and my topic is about coral reef restoration, and I would like to talk about how important, beautiful, and amazing coral reefs are. Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean, and they support 25% of all marine life.

The ocean produces somewhere from 50%-80% through plankton, reefs and many other ways. So, if we continue down this path, then we won’t have quality breathing air and we will lose lots of our marine life, that would be a big problem for people. Like fishermen for example, this would be a problem for them because they wouldn’t make little to no money, and us humans as the consumers will not have any fish to eat, which could cause some people to starve. Seagrass captures carbon up to 35 times faster than a tropical rainforest which is another way our oceans help us to survive. Whitening of coral has been proven with photos and videos from scientific researches and divers. Drone and Satellite Images have shown coral bleaching.

Some things we can do to help is reduce our carbon footprint, like doing simple things such as carpooling or buying led lights that last longer. Other things you could do is raise awareness for this issue, donate to organizations that help to resolve this issue. Bermuda is protected by its coral reefs. So that is why scientist are also doing scientific research on this issue to help figure out other ways we can help to keep coral alive because our beautiful coral reefs are very big and they help us to avoid things like tsunamis and bad hurricanes, so if we didn’t have our reefs, we would have a very big problem. Some other things Bermuda is doing to overcome this issue is creating marine protected areas, by gardening coral and helping to restore it with the Living Reefs Foundation.

Sources:

Bermuda’s Restoration Plan

Tristan Smith

Eco-System Restoration is a project that rehabilitates varieties of endangered animals and plants. Eco-System Restoration has been in effect in Bermuda for years. A known example of this is the Nonsuch Island Project in 1962. Eco-system restoration is assisting in the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded or destroyed. Bermuda has been trying to restore several eco-systems to benefit the island.

Bermuda has a variety of endemic plants that we may take for granted. For about 300 years, the Bermuda Petrel or Cahow was thought to be extinct, however on January 28th, 1951, a living Cahow was discovered in Bermuda, sparking the creation of the Nonsuch Island Project in 1962, a well know Bermudian restoration project. Without this project, the Cahows may have been wiped out completely, showing the importance of taking care of our eco-systems and the restoration plans happening around us we may not even notice. If we continue how we are around the world, an estimate of 30% and 50% of all species on Earth will be wiped out by human activity.

Bermuda is taking part in numerous eco-system restoration projects around the island. Projects like the Nonsuch island project and the sea grass restoration project are extremely important to Bermuda’s diverse eco-system. With the help of Bermudians, 156 pairs of Cahows are flourishing. The citizens of Bermuda can help with the restoration, donating to the cause or even reducing the use of plastic can help bring Bermuda back to its original lush state.

Sources of Information

www.decadeonrestoration.org

https://audubon.bm

www.royalgazette.com

1 Million Species Face Extinction Because of Humans: Report

Bermuda Petrel returns to Nonsuch Island after 400 years – BirdGuides

Ecosystem Restoration

Tyler Rance

DID YOU KNOW, by 2050 we are at risk of losing over 1 MILLION species if we continue not taking care of the planet (littering, pollution etc.). “Ecosystem restoration means helping the recovery of ecosystems that have been destroyed or downgraded, as well as keeping the ecosystems that are lively, intact. It reverses degraded ecosystems back to healthy levels.”(United Nations Environment Programme) Ecosystem projects can be launched by anyone from governments and development agencies to company’s communities and civilians. Ecosystem projects are natural habitats such as rainforests, savannahs and peatbogs to oceans, rivers, and lakes. Ecosystem restoration dates to the early 1900’s when Aldo Leopold began the movement of environmentalism. Leopold was a professor and a campaigner for the preservation of wildlife and wilderness areas. Ecosystem restoration continues to play a crucial role in our lives and is a necessity. Without it we will not have clean air and water, climate stability, or biodiversity, which are all things we need to have a habitable environment to survive. Bermuda is affected by depleted ecosystems, just like everywhere else, and we must produce our own restoration plan.

We are overusing nature’s resources and treating it as a dumping ground for our waste. If we continue this way, we can lose species and natural resources such as coral reefs! Trees, soil, seagrass, and humans produce carbon. However, pollution, climate change, and pesticides make nature’s resources less productive, so instead of storing carbon it is released into the atmosphere. This adds to our climate change and global warming problem. When we ruin the soil, animals are also forced to migrate closer to humans, which puts us at risk of disease. Our poor habits are ruining the environment, the animals and inevitably ourselves. Ecosystem Restoration is the solution. It is important because it fixes the damages humans have inflicted on nature, and it gives us a better and healthier earth.

Ecosystem restoration gives us a boost to biodiversity which helps endangered species and helps our food chains. Ecosystem Restoration helps to create clean water and clean air and prevents any natural disasters like flooding and droughts and wildfires. This is all necessary because without Ecosystem restoration every organism would have trouble living or even die. To get out of this ecosystem issue, we must plan to restore.

Some ideas Bermuda can implement to be effective would be to:

Educate: Continue educating the younger generations in schools about the importance of ecosystem restoration. This will help the kids to understand why they need to take care of the environment and prevent any further destruction.

If we had specialists in Bermuda to do further research into restoration opportunities, Bermuda could be a leader in Ecosystem restoration for marine heavy areas. We could become the Marine Ecosystem Restoration hub!

Charitable Organization: Join forces with a global organization that fund raises for the environment like “Eden: People + Planet” Eden: People+Planet – Holistic Landscape Restoration Projects. We can work together to collect donations, and we can save a portion specifically for Bermuda.

Expand Greenery: Grow more trees, particularly in high traffic areas, such as Hamilton. This will help filter, cool down the air, and reduce global warming. We should also ensure that any tree that gets disrupted must be replanted or replaced.

Protect coastline: We can also get environmental teams together to work on mangroves to help protect our coastline, and coral reefs to maintain our marine life and food sources. This also provides job opportunities for Bermudians.

With these adjustments we can fix the past and create a better future. We need everyone’s involvement to make any ecosystem restoration plan work. Let us all be the change we need to secure a healthy future for our planet and ourselves.