Jeimila Donty (E17) : “Help Us to Save African Coral Reefs”

Jeimila Donty (E17) is launching the Koraï initiative to preserve the coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds of Africa, which are threatened with extinction. She explains the causes of this disaster and the solutions to be implemented. You have until 30 November to contribute to her crowdfunding campaign at KissKissBankBank.

ESSEC Alumni: How has your career led you to act for African coral reefs?

Jeimila Donty: I was born in Madagascar and travelled several times a year to Nosy Be, an archipelago of tropical islands which make you fall in love with beaches and coral! My parents created several businesses there, including aquarium shops, a zoo and a coral farm. When my father died suddenly in 2020, my three brothers and I took over the coral farms, which mainly reproduce coral for export. That’s what incited me to create Koraï.

EA: What is the current situation for African coral reefs?

J. Donty: According to Nature Sustainability, the 12,000 km² of coral reefs along the African coastlines on the Indian Ocean could disappear completely by 2070. That’s quite soon...

EA: Is it the same situation all along the African coast, or does it vary according to the area? 

J. Donty: Most of the African coral reefs are located along the East African coast, from the Red Sea to South Africa, and via the Mozambique Channel. They represent a key resource for the fishermen of these regions. Other reefs are also to be found around the Horn of Africa. There is not sufficient data to paint an accurate picture, but logically, the situation appears to vary according to both the level of activity and level of intervention. Coasts with lower population densities do not appear to be at risk for the moment, and certain countries such as Kenya and South Africa are already leading effective restoration projects. However, numerous other countries, such as Madagascar, are facing severe deterioration but lack the means to create protective programmes.

EA: What causes coral to disappear?  

J. Donty: The world’s coral reefs are faced with three major threats. The first is direct destruction, linked to irresponsible fishing, tourist and building activities, such as dynamite fishing, anchor dropping and sand dredging. The second threat is water pollution (wastewater discharge and microplastics, etc.) which alters the salinity of the seas. The third and biggest threat is climate change. It is estimated that a rise of 1.5°C in land temperature could lead to the disappearance of 70% of corals.

EA: To date, who is acting to improve the situation? 

J. Donty: There are three types of actors involved: institutions, non-profit groups and businesses. The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), of which France is a founding member, constitutes one of the largest organisations in this field. It funds initiatives ranging from research to the restoration of natural environments. The non-profit sector is also highly active, on a very local or sometimes international level, with groups such as Coral Guardian which carries out invaluable work to train and provide autonomous solutions to the populations located in their areas of intervention. Lastly, some businesses are also engaged in the cause, such as Coral Gardeners in French Polynesia or Coral Vita in the USA. To my knowledge, however, this does not yet exist in Africa, which is why I created Koraï.

EA: What solutions do these various actors offer? 

J. Donty: Some capitalise on B2C and raising awareness, offering initiatives such as adopting a coral. You receive an adoption certificate and information on the species being helped to survive. Others concentrate more on B2B, by helping companies to develop a bespoke CSR plan to fund restoration programmes, for example. In addition, they contribute to advances in research, particularly with regard to assisted evolution, which consists in helping corals to cope with the inevitable rise in the Earth’s temperature.

EA: Are these solutions adequate, in your view? 

J. Donty: All the sector’s players endeavour to measure the long-term impact of their actions and some have already published evolution reports, but data remains insufficient and difficult to analyse. That’s why I decided to launch a challenge as part of the upcoming Nausicaa Ocean Hackathon: to create a decision-making tool which targets more accurately the damaged areas to replant (identifiable by bleached coral and a thinning of seagrass beds) and ensures closer scientific monitoring of restoration projects.

EA: You developed your own solutions with Koraï. Could you tell us about your activities? 

J. Donty: We restore mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs throughout Africa thanks to a network of standardised nurseries, for which we offer three products. Firstly, a bespoke CSR plan for companies such as shippers or major hotel chains seeking to contribute to the return of biodiversity in the area. Secondly, we provide a carbon compensation measure via our plantations. Lastly, we organise fun learning visits to our nurseries, along the lines of what you find in natural history museums or aquariums.

EA: What actions have you already led? 

J. Donty: My brothers and I began by testing a first coral plantation. My brothers also initiated a successful restoration experiment around Antsoha island, which is a protected marine area managed by Lémuria Land, and the zone is visibly coming back to life!

EA: What are the next steps in your development?

J. Donty: First and foremost, to finalise the conversion of the Madagascar nursery which serves as a pilot for the Koraï project. We’ve rehabilitated the nursery, we just need to finalise the museum part, and are planning its inauguration for the end of the year. After that, I’d like to recruit three key positions: a COO, a head of R&D from the marine biology sector and an intern in charge of making the Nosy Be nursery fully operational. Don’t hesitate to contact me.

EA: How can ESSEC alumni support your activities, and more broadly actions for African coral?

J. Donty: First of all, I’d encourage you to find out more about the situation. In particular, I recommend the documentary Chasing Corals on Netflix, and the fun book Corals by the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. I also invite anyone interested in a partnership, such as intermediary-company CSR managers looking to engage in marine biodiversity, or eco-tourism operators, to get in contact with me. Finally, I’m currently running a crowdfunding campaign at KissKissBankBank to add to my seed capital, which will enable me to fund my minimum viable product and to find additional funding thanks to the leverage effect. You have up to 30 November to participate!

You have until 30 November to contribute to the Koraï crowdfunding campaign at KissKissBankBank.

Find out more: 
korai-africa.com

Interview by Louis Armengaud Wurmser (E10), Content Manager at ESSEC Alumni.

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