In August 2007, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and BHP Billiton joined with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), to launch CReefs, a four year, $3.4 million program. The partnership allowed the iconic Australian reef sites of the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo Reef to be included in the CReefs global research initiative.
CReefs (www.creefs.org) is the coral reef component of the Census of Marine Life (www.coml.org), a global network of researchers in more than 80 nations engaged in a ten year initiative to assess and explain the diversity, distribution, and abundance of marine life in oceans - past, present, and future.
The CReefs Partnership also includes an employee engagement program which allows BHP Billiton's environmental professionals to participate in the field expeditions. Employees assist the scientists with field and laboratory activities, giving them with a first hand, underwater look at the work the scientists are doing.
“We are delighted to make such an important contribution to advancing science’s understanding of coral reef biodiversity which will lead to sustainable management and preservation, of our coral reefs. This project strongly aligns with the company’s business and forms part of our commitment to invest 1% of our pre-tax profits globally on social and environmental programs.”
BHP Billiton Group Executive and Chief Executive Ferrous and Coal, Marcus Randolph
Partnership Successes
Working at Lizard and Heron Islands on the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo Reef in northwestern Australia, researchers turned up a wealth of new insights into – and stunning images of – ocean life, much of it never seen by humans before, including:
- More than 1200 new species identified
- 30 new polychaete species were identified. Polychaetes, or segmented worms, are amongst the most common and widespread invertebrates in the oceans. Due to their often spectacular and majestic appearance, several polychaete families are named after nymphs and goddesses, such as Nereis, commonly known as the clam worm, and Aphrodite, known as the sea mouse.
- Discovery of several new species of Zoanthids, an order of colonial animals found in deep sea environments and fringe habitats. Zoanthids are related to corals and sea anemones.
- A first ever baseline for coral reef biodiversity has been established, providing vast amounts of new knowledge around the size, complexity and beauty of the biodiversity in coral reefs.
- Development and implementation of new methods and technologies to estimate species diversity on reefs around the world.
To date, twelve BHP Billiton employees have participated in field expeditions across a range of reef sites and all have found the experience both valuable and fascinating.
“It was great to be involved in CReefs. It was a real eye-opener in terms of revealing the new technology that is out there and the kind of studies that are required in order to protect marine ecosystems. I found it very rewarding and when I got back I felt reinvigorated”
Silver Maumoska, Senior Environmental Advisor, BHP Billiton Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd.
“This experience has not only been incredibly personally rewarding and an opportunity to meet some great people but has also been one of the most interesting and worthwhile professional development opportunities I have participated in”.
Lexie Frankham, Environmental Advisor, Newcastle Properties Group.
“The research and field work and working with a team of scientists gave me a really good insight into how such expeditions work, and an understanding of how work we contract out to our consultants would be organised. The insight into professional research can be applied to any type of research run through or done by the company.”
Michelle Vardy, Environmental graduate, Western Australia Iron Ore.
Listen to the ABC's Science Show podcast discussing the CReefs project.
UPDATE: The CReefs project has been selected as a finalist in the 2010 Eureka Prize. A link to the nomination page is here.