Ocean Health Fund
No matter where you live, you are directly affected by the health of our oceans. Our own personal health and livelihoods are interconnected with the wellbeing of the oceans. Tourism is just one of many industries that are dependent on the oceans for economic gain. In partnership with G Adventures, and supported by thousands of travellers across the world, Planeterra has been able to support organizations around the world that specialize in protecting the health of our oceans. Planeterra has invested nearly CAD $400,000 into these programs over the last six years through the Ocean Health Fund.
Combating ocean waste
Three hundred million tons of plastic are produced every year, yet only 5% of those plastics are recycled. Deep waters, coral reefs, beaches and intertidal zones are all vulnerable to this influx of trash. Identifying and implementing solutions to this problem requires expanded education about the magnitude and spatial extent of marine debris, as well as a global initiative to act.
Protecting fragile ecosystems
The flora and fauna that fill our planet play a unique role in creating once-in-a-lifetime tourism experiences. The following programs work to support fragile ecosystems of different species while improving the overall health of our oceans.
Cast Away Ocean Science
The CastAway Ocean Science is part of a global initiative called the Coral Reef Early Warning System (CREWS), which uses local information about weather and marine conditions that is gathered by a series of monitoring stations and buoys located worldwide. Planeterra has teamed up with the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) to collect ocean data onboard the G Adventures Expedition ship, which has committed to collect data from points in Antarctica and the Arctic, which are regions where researchers struggle to acquire data.
South Georgia Heritage Trust
With our partners, Friends of South Georgia Island (FOGSI) and South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT), Planeterra was able to invest over $150,000 CAD into a four-year bait and clearing habitat preservation program. The arrival of rats to South Georgia as stowaways on sealer and whaler ships has had a catastrophic effect on the island’s bird populations. The objective of the South Georgia Heritage Trust is to remove every rodent from every piece of land on South Georgia, and to leave it rodent-free for generations to come. The eradication of rodents from South Georgia is expected to result in the return of over 100 million breeding birds, allowing the island to reclaim its status as one of the most important seabird sanctuaries in the world.