Photo: Francesco Ungaro | Unsplash
As the conditions of coral reefs around the world deteriorate due to climate change and environmental degradation, governments and businesses are seeking help from knowledgeable and respected experts on coral restoration. One such expert is a 61-year-old diving instructor from Malaysia, who has so far revived about 125 acres of coral reefs. Anuar Abdullah does not have an advanced science degree or a research lab, but for decades, he has been studying corals and experimenting with ways to grow them in the ocean by himself. "Everyone thought I was stupid," said Abdullah. "But I knew I was doing the most important thing in the world." Instead of relying on steel or concrete in building his coral nurseries, Abdullah uses materials directly from nature like rocks from the seafloor and repurposes abandoned objects he finds on the beach. Rather than "fragmenting" live coral in a lab for propagating new ones, he grows his coral garden from broken pieces of coral found in existing reefs. Abdullah's unyielding dedication to restoring coral reefs has inspired thousands of people around the world. Today, Abdullah is working alongside 700 active volunteers who want to do something positive about climate change. "For so long, I was part of the problem," said Sebestian Jungo, a volunteer who left his job in Switzerland and moved to Malaysia to help set up the coral nursery on the Perhentian Islands. "Finally, now, I can be part of the solution."
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