Archireef leverages the latest technologies in 3D printing to create artificial habitats that are truly ocean-friendly. With the algorithm-based adaptiveness and 3D printer’s versatility, our reef tiles have been proven 4 times more effective in keeping the corals alive than conventional methods, securing 95% of coral survivorship.
Most, if not all, players in the coral restoration industry involve the use of harmful materials such as concrete blocks and metal rebars. We use clay, which is a truly ocean-friendly material that is non-toxic to the ocean. We are also able to tweak the design of our biomimicry pattern based on the growth form of local species, allowing a 4X higher effectiveness in restoration success.
With full control over our R&D (via a hub in Hong Kong) and our production (via a facility in Abu Dhabi), we have established a strong basis for both new product development and full scale commercialisation. With this in mind, our 2025 goal is to expand our footprint to 10 large restoration sites across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
Internationally, coral restoration and biodiversity are still lacking behind in terms of certification and uniform verification / measurement standards. To address this issue, we adopt eDNA - environmental DNA - to measure biodiversity, though in the long run, international standards would definitely increase our recognition and perceived reliability.
Our Chief Scientist and Co-founder Dr David Baker is also an Associate Professor of Ecology and Biodiversity at the University of Hong Kong, as well as a multi-disciplinary marine ecologist with a focus on coral reef species. He leads our scientific team to develop a robust methodolgy to measure and monitor the impacts of our restoration work using science-backed methodologies such as eDNA.
eDNA approaches require much less effort in terms of human resources and time. Water and sediment samples can be procured easily, and stored indefinitely. Data analysis does not require any special taxonomic expertise. It is therefore presumed that eDNA biodiversity monitoring will become the norm in the future, once good regional databases for biodiversity are established.
In the longer term, interventions to counter wildlife crime can only be effective if they are based on a combination of strategic planning and innovative action. Practical strategies with clearly defined aims are vital to enable coordinated interventions. All interventions must seek to achieve required outcomes that work towards priority goals. To be successful, strategic planning – as well as the resultant interventions – must involve all key role players to ensure a sense of joint ownership. Similarly, strategic interventions must embrace the contributions of all relevant stakeholders to ensure coordinated action. Yet action must remain innovative so that activities can be adapted as unforeseen circumstances are encountered, new needs arise, or parameters shift. In addition, strategies need to be revisited and refined at regular intervals to ensure they remain relevant in a changing environment. This combination of working toward clear aims with effective strategies, while always being willing and able to adapt through innovative changes in approach and action, is an essential building block to effectively counter wildlife crime.
Sound systems & approaches must be in place to create an effective framework for strategic planning and innovative action
All stakeholders must be involved in strategic planning to ensure a sense of joint ownership & enable successful implementation
A strong partnership between conservation & law-enforcement agencies is vital for coordinated strategies to counter wildlife crime
Clearly defined overall aims & required outcomes enable strategic planning to be relevant and implementable
Strategies are only successful if they are embraced by all key stakeholders & can be implemented effectively
Strategies must be realistic, practical and achievable
Acknowledgement of all contributions to the implementation of a strategy is important
Strategies must be revisited & refined regularly to remain relevant
Innovation & adaptability to change strategies as needs dictate is vital for ongoing success
Existing systems & approaches may need to be revised to enable the implementation of strategies, or to ensure innovation & adaptability
Criminals constantly adapt their activities to changing circumstances. It is therefore vital that activities to counter crime also adapt. A great variety of modern technologies exist that can significantly enhance initiatives to counter wildlife crime. These can be combined with a range of traditional and novel conservation and law-enforcement tools to provide an operational edge over criminal activities. Constant innovation in the development of technologies and tools requires regular updating to keeping abreast of changes. It is also possible to modify both technologies and tools at a local level to suit unique requirements and applications as these arise.
In the law-enforcement sphere related to wildlife crime, vital technology categories include surveillance, forensics (DNA, ballistics, digital), data capture/management/analysis, and more. Tools include information networks, investigative techniques, prosecution techniques, court-case monitoring, legislative options, and more.
The effective application of these technologies and tools requires capacity building within government, as well as the empowerment of individual staff to apply the technologies and tools as needed.
Government parameters to effectively implement the use of available technologies & tools
Funding to secure the latest technologies & tools & update these as required
Capacity building to ensure technologies & tools are used to best effect
Technologies & tools are only valuable if they can be applied by competent, dedicated personnel
Technologies & tools must be shared amongst all relevant stakeholders to ensure best application
Relationship building amongst personnel from all relevant agencies is important to ensure that technologies & tools are embraced by all relevant actors
Elitist attitudes to the use of technologies & tools are often counterproductive
The capacity to adapt technologies and tools to local needs & circumstances can be a game changer
Direct, fast and flexible external funding support for law enforcement and related needs
A large portion of international funding support to counter wildlife crime is used for workshops and conferences, awareness creation and community mobilisation, general equipment and infrastructure, and implementing-NGO overheads. The terms of use for such funding are often dictated by the funding agency and the implementing NGO, rather than the government of the target country. While these interventions play an important role, they generally do not directly address the core challenge of countering wildlife crime. Government agencies often operate on limited budgets with restrictive procurement and approval procedures. This can inhibit rapid action, particularly in unforeseen crisis scenarios. Fast and flexible external funding support that is channelled directly into government operations can remove many of these constraints and unlock the full potential of government staff. In the context of countering wildlife crime, this enables government law-enforcement and conservation personnel to respond rapidly to incidents of any nature and effectively carry out their mandated duties. Importantly, funds must be channelled directly into operational activities, ideally via a local support NGO with minimal overheads, rather than becoming part of broader budgets that are prone to bureaucratic pitfalls.
Government willingness to receive direct external funding support for wildlife protection & law enforcement activities
International funding agency with flexible funding parameters
Local support NGO trusted by government & with proven track record in countering wildlife crime to act as conduit for funding with minimal overheads
Capacity building & individual empowerment of government law-enforcement & conservation personnel to enable them to effectively carry out mandated duties
A trusted local support NGO, with experience & understanding of the operational environment is important to secure international funding & channel this into priority government operations
Funding must be disbursed directly to mandated government activities for wildlife protection & law enforcement
Funding must be able to be disbursed as needed, 24 hours a day 365 days a year, to ensure rapid response capabilities at all times
Small pilot initiatives are valuable in testing systems & approaches
Strong relationships between key personnel are vital in achieving desired results
Government agencies often work in isolation from other government agencies, as well as from non-governmental organisations, private-sector entities, local communities and other potential partners. Interagency cooperation ensures that separate agencies with overlapping mandates or interests liaise and collaborate with each other to address common goals. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism is the custodian of wildlife and other terrestrial resources in Namibia, mandated with their conservation and protection. The Namibian Police Force is mandated with maintaining law and order, including laws related to wildlife. The Namibian Defence Force is tasked with defending the state and its resources against threats. The Office of the Prosecutor General is responsible for prosecuting suspects in the name of the state in criminal proceedings. Other government agencies with some overlapping mandate include the Directorate of Customs and Excise, the Financial Intelligence Centre and the Anti-Corruption Commission. Government actions can be considerably strengthened through partnerships with NGOs, the private sector, local communities and international funding agencies. Active collaboration between government agencies, and between government and other stakeholders, facilitates effective countering of wildlife crime in Namibia.
Full commitment by all levels of government
Clear agency mandates with common goals
Active & ongoing communication & sharing of resources
Strong working relationships between key individuals
Trust in the integrity & competence of individuals & organisations
Full recognition of individual contributions
Recognition of defined roles at individual & organisational levels
Capacity building & empowerment at all levels
Fast & flexible external funding & technical support
Stakeholder recognition & support of government mandates
Interagency cooperation must be formalised through written memorandums outlining aims