Coco Collection, a luxury resort group in the Maldives, recently announced a collaboration with the University of Milano-Bicocca to strengthen and support coral rehabilitation and conservation efforts across its properties. The University of Milano-Bicocca is renowned for its research-oriented approach, making it an ideal partner for this important initiative.

As part of this collaboration, Coco Collection will work closely with the university to increase efforts to protect and rehabilitate the coral gardens and biodiversity in its resorts. Dr. Simone Montana, Assistant Professor at the University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Earth and Environmental Science and Vice Director of the university’s Marine Research and High Education Centre, recently visited the Coco Bodu Hithi property in the Maldives to deliver a presentation on marine biodiversity, coral reefs, and ecosystems.

During his visit, Dr. Simone emphasized the current health status of the coral gardens at Coco Bodu Hithi and stressed the need to understand the dynamics that drive this ecosystem under a climate change scenario in order to develop and propose environmental management plans. He also expressed his desire to promote and strengthen scientific and teaching cooperation in the field of Biodiversity and Ecology, Climate Change and Ecosystem Health, Sustainable use of Marine Resources through the implementation of an internship program with Coco Collection.

Climate change poses a significant threat to the fragile coral ecosystems in the Maldives. The continuous fluctuations and progressive rise in ocean heat content worldwide continuously puts coral reefs at risk of coral bleaching events, which have caused devastating damage and loss to coral gardens across the island nation in the past. Global scientists predict that an extreme El Niño may occur this year, which could cause mass coral bleaching events in the archipelago, highlighting the urgent need for resilient coral communities.

To proactively safeguard its house reef, Coco Collection is taking further steps to protect its coral gardens. The collaboration with the University of Milano-Bicocca is just the beginning of a long-term cooperation that can make Coco Collection a leader in coral rehabilitation and conservation. Chiara Fumagalli, Sustainability Officer of Coco Collection, believes that this collaboration will enable the group to become a leader in coral rehabilitation and conservation, ensuring the continued beauty and diversity of the Maldives’ marine ecosystems for generations to come.