Chaojing Coral Conservation Center
Delta has announced the opening of the Chaojing Coral Conservation Center on September 23rd with the aim of restoring internationally recognized endangered corals. By leveraging Delta Electronics' expertise in industrial and building automation, and also integrating intelligent aquaculture and environmental management, the Center intends to create a suitable and energy-efficient greenhouse for coral growth. Corals with heat-resistant genes will be selected and transplanted into the Chaojing Bay Resource Conservation Area. It is expected that over 10,000 corals will be restored within three years. In addition, Delta will contribute renewable electricity to help the Chaojing Coral Conservation Center eventually reach zero carbon emissions
Global climate change is intensifying, and research by the United Nations expects that 70% to 90% of coral reefs may face extinction while a quarter of marine species may lose their habitat if planet Earth’s average temperature rises above 1.5°C. Hence, Delta launched a coral restoration initiative in 2021. The new Chaojing Coral Conservation Center will bolster our efforts, with Delta's automation technology supporting key processes within the research of heat-resistant corals. This will help corals to develop better heat-resistant resilience in the face of more frequent marine heatwaves.
The Center is also seen by experts as the Noah's Ark for corals, as corals migrate northward due to the warming of the surrounding waters. In addition to assisting in the establishment of the center and using Delta's automated breeding equipment, we are also working together on research projects with experts, and joining hands with conservation organizations to promote and expand marine education. Through the promotion we hope that Delta's efforts will encourage more people to value the restoration of coral habitats, and together, become caretakers of coral.”
Integrating high-efficiency coral farming systems and intelligent building automation systems, the Center can support the cultivation of about 6,000 coral seedlings. Currently, the Center has selected 20 endangered native coral species that are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Endangered and Vulnerable Coral List, including Turbinaria reniformis, Galaxea astreata and Pavona cactus, which have been identified among the first protected species in the center. Through molecular biological identification, those corals are confirmed as local species, using Delta's Micro Computed Tomography (Micro CT) to produce 1μm high-resolution images and establish a database of Calcium carbonate skeletons of endangered corals. This early adaptation helps mitigate the impacts of global warming on ecosystem.
Corals cultivated in Chaojing Coral Conservation Center
