{"title": "Coral Connect🪸", "logoImg": "bafkreibamamzldzf5s4dny4xmtwpp7f7i4b4rfgepqnqcdyhvxpgmuqvnq", "website": "https://notessential.io", "bannerImg": "bafkreifn4e2ovhp2yey7zvi62zc3mkyog3tat4fmenb2et2izrise2zwyi", "createdAt": 1713234089490, "credentials": {}, "description": "Coral Connect is transforming coral conservation with a groundbreaking approach: linking each donation directly to a living coral's growth, monitored in real-time through our innovative platform. Just imagine seeing the direct impact of your contribution on coral ecosystems. Our purpose is to revolutionize how people connect with coral reef restoration initiatives so that we empower individuals worldwide to take an active role in preserving our marine ecosystems.\nThe direct purpose of this grant is to obtain funding for Hilly (our CMO) to expand us to Palau directly. In partnership with the Palauan government, he will be building a fully sustainable coral farm for direct out planting into surrounding reefs, showcasing Coral Connect technology. This expansion is supported by the Palauan government including the prior acquisition of the property to be used and the funding to build the land-based nurseries including our biobanking systems. \n\nWhat sets us apart? \nWe're not just another conservation project; we're creating a global community connected by technology, empowering individuals to actively participate in reef restoration. With Coral Connect, you're not just donating, you're engaging, learning, and making a tangible difference in the ocean's future. Additionally, every coral is grown on a personalized ceramic disc, commemorated with your chosen image or text. Our advanced 3D scanning technology assesses reef health, setting a new benchmark in environmental stewardship. Each piece of coral is geolocated upon its rehoming back into the reef allowing a living legacy of impact.\n\nTrack record:\nOur team has already seen success, with a sold-out NFT collection, holder events and several rounds of tangible deliverables to holders. We have acquired partnerships across the Southeast Asian Coral Triangle to set new standards for environmental stewardship and are currently growing coral in Queensland Australia on Magnetic Island using an AI coral farming robot. Unlike traditional methods, our approach is scalable, data-driven, and designed for global impact.\n\nProof of work:\nhttps://x.com/NotEssential_io/status/1548860504734842880 \nhttps://x.com/NotEssential_io/status/1558653596056846336 \nhttps://x.com/CycloTurtles/status/1642500012864311296 \nhttps://x.com/4evaFamouss/status/1668023420012081154 \nhttps://x.com/CycloTurtles/status/1602470972619165696\nhttps://x.com/NotEssential_io/status/1705422396252123500 \nhttps://x.com/CycloTurtles/status/1762429203939831982 \nhttps://x.com/hardmoustache/status/1766331107199565842 \nhttps://x.com/corvusbrewco/status/1770073767596978208 \n\nProject Links:\nNotEssential | Because we can \nhttps://x.com/NotEssential_io  \nhttps://x.com/CycloTurtles  \nhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kanenagendran?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3B32N%2FXQVFT7qsDSg5oRrfgA%3D%3D\n\nThe Deep Dive:\n\nCoral Connect is the first “connect” arm under the NotEssential umbrella. It provides transparent and engaging access to reef restoration by linking dynamic digital assets to a living legacy of impact. Allowing users real time data updates of coral growth, transplant locations and overall individualized data for their personalized coral. This fosters a unique and direct connection to each, and every coral raised by donors. Each digital asset is to include metadata surrounding coral surface area, coral health, and density. When rehomed in the reef each piece is geolocated and tracked with future reef scans. This model also provides the capability to translate data into two different types of globally marketed credits, enabling the global connectivity required to expedite the current efforts as well as the hard data providing proof of work. Coral Connect provides transparency from donor to impact in an unprecedented way.\n\n\nProcess:\n\nAll prospective sites are first subject to a thorough 3d scanning of local reefs and the existing marine biome surrounding target sites. These models include the reefs themselves and every type of detectable species in the scanned area. This provides initial standards, verifiable data, and measurements for rating and verification necessary to obtain a “beginning biodiversity score”. The direct impact on marine life, coral growth, and biome health can be measured extremely accurately in this way. Engagement and adoption is driven through tailored user experience providing each donor with a digital coral for ownership that matches the living coral inside each nurseries’ tanks. Each individual coral in the tank is grown on a personally customizable ceramic disc, commemorating each donor's connection to their specific coral with their choice of a photo, logo, or engraved text. As the coral in the tank grows, the data and relevant changes are reflected through the digital asset within our mobile platform. This provides personal connection and interaction with the living coral being cared for until such time it is out planted from the land-based tank. All corals must remain in our tanks for six months before out planting may occur. By personalizing the entire experience and allowing users to choose coral type; this approach offers direct engagement for everyone willing to participate, and a living legacy of impact that is tracked, transferable, and immortalized by blockchain. As an added bonus, many of the current issues facing both field nurseries and land nurseries are eliminated through this method. The entire system is built for scalability and cost effectiveness throughout. All corals grown by Coral Connect are farmed sustainably in solar powered scalable tanks on land. By running this off-grid modular system, all sites will become shining examples of efficiency, environmental stewardship, and global collaboration. This means that tank coral diversity, stability, and viable coral ratios for out planting are directly improved in an efficient and measurable process as we scale together. \n\nWhy:  The current landscape of charitable giving often grapples with issues of transparency and engagement. This lack of clear tangible outcomes, coupled with reduced awareness and accessibility, often distances donors from the causes they support. With this method we can address issues of engagement and transparency, while gaining the data related to impact, accreditation, and tokenization necessary to gain further global adoption of this new gold standard.\n\nCoral Connect provides a solution through transparent and engaging access to reef restoration by leveraging the power of real-time data, 3D modelling, and blockchain technology. Our platform is not just a tool but a movement, inviting everyone from enthusiasts to experts to connect globally to rejuvenate and preserve our precious coral ecosystems.\n\nHow:\nReal-Time Data Updates: Coral Connect provides users with immediate updates on coral growth and transplant locations, offering a unique window into the progress of their contributions.\nDigital Asset Linkage: Every coral supported is represented by a digital asset, a 3D model linked directly to live data about the coral's type, surface area, and carbon sequestered, making the impact of each donation tangible and personal.\nPersonalized Coral Growth: Through our platform, donors can memorialize their contribution with ceramic discs that serve as the foundation for coral growth, each disc commemorating the donor's connection to their specific coral with options for photos, logos, or engraved text.\nAdvanced 3D Scanning: We employ state-of-the-art 3D scanning to thoroughly assess reef health and the marine biome, establishing a baseline for restoration and enabling precise monitoring and verification of biodiversity improvements.\nBenefits\nEmpowering Participation: Coral Connect empowers individuals and communities to take an active role in coral conservation, making a tangible difference in the health of our reefs.\nSetting New Standards: By integrating technology with conservation, we're establishing a new gold standard for charitable stewardship and impact-driven engagement in ocean conservation.\nScalable Operations: Our approach to coral nursery operations is designed for scalability and efficiency, enabling a broader impact across the globe.\nEnhancing Biodiversity: Through continuous monitoring and verifiable data, Coral Connect significantly enhances biodiversity and carbon sequestration efforts, contributing to the health of marine ecosystems.\n\nNext Steps:\nMRV (3D Reef scan to create baseline scores)\nBuild coral farming facility in chosen locations\nMarine biologist will prepare the facility and educate local workers.\nCoral fragmentation and growth (6-month cycle)\nImplement the Coral Connect platform within the facility.\nLaunch (International social media campaign, Palauan Governmental backing/ media exposure)\nOut planting newly grown corals into the reef\nMeasure impact/scale.\n\n", "logoImgData": {}, "bannerImgData": {}, "projectTwitter": "NotEssential_io"}