The Ropes of Hope

The Ropes of Hope NGO is being born from the dreams of a few ocean lovers on a coral restoration course on Mafia Island off the southern coast of Tanzania, funded by the Chole Mjini Conservation and Development Company and Thanda Island Private Marine Reserve, in partnership with the Mafia Island Marine Park, Tanzania. We are already establishing large-scale coral nurseries to serve as living gene banks, to conserve genetic variability. Our long-term plan however is to approach the coral reef ecosystem of the park holistically, by including the local communities who live in the park and depend on the natural resources of the park. Our efforts will focus on: -Continuing to collect and propagate as many different species, and genotypes within species, as possible from “corals of opportunity” - loose, living fragments that would otherwise die - to create a living gene bank. -Conducting well-controlled and monitored research on methods for cost-effective reef regeneration while understanding how to stimulate natural coral recruitment. -Involving the fishers of the islands within the park in coral propagation and regeneration, raising awareness of the economic importance of the reefs for their futures, and helping them diversify their money-making activities and develop alternative protein sources. In order to reduce fishing pressure and engage our fishing communities, we need to offer viable short-term alternatives to net fishing, such as octopus fisheries management, mariculture, improved poultry husbandry and permaculture, to the Mafia Archipelago. “Ropes” symbolize our hope to build many rope nurseries, for corals, sponges and seaweed, while also symbolizing the strength inherent in many strands working together towards a common purpose. If you are part of an organization that has common goals, please contact us to explore how we can form a symbiosis.