Micronesian communities, which heavily depend on functional marine ecosystems, have turned towards data science to protect their local coral reefs.
Micronesia Reef Monitoring App presents vast amounts of data gathered in this western part of the Pacific in an intuitive and easily accessible way. With quick access to data and insightful data visualizations local conservationists and decision-makers can now better understand the needs of the coral reefs, assess their health, track progress, and manage conservation efforts.
The solution also serves as an early alert system, drawing the spotlight on areas where coral reefs might be in danger, benefiting corals, fisheries, and communities that rely on those resources.
The app was developed by the University of Guam in cooperation with data analytics company Appsilon. It is part of a wider conservation initiative—the Micronesia Challenge—which aims to effectively manage 50% of the local marine resources. (PR)
