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10/28/2023 HER Planet Earth's 'Into the Blue' Event: An Inspirational Evening of Empowerment & Conservation, Raising $45,000 for THE Sulubaaï FoundationRead Now  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Singapore, October 30, 2023 — HER Planet Earth, the global women's advocacy movement dedicated to strengthening the connection between female empowerment and environmental integrity, successfully hosted the 'Into the Blue' charity cocktail reception and film screening at Catapult in Singapore, on October 24, 2023. The event brought together a notable gathering of 100 senior C-suite professionals comprised a select group of industry leaders, affluent individuals, and sustainability experts from various sectors and was generously sponsored by LGT, the world's largest royal family-owned private bank. Together, they raised $45,000 SGD in support of the Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation's conservation initiatives in the Philippines. This event was thoughtfully timed to coincide with the International Day of Climate Action, aiming to shed light on the admirable work of HER Planet Earth's charity partner, the Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation. The primary mission was to generate both awareness and essential funds for the preservation and rejuvenation of natural resources within the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Palawan in the Philippines. Fred Tardieu, Founder of the Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation, who flew in especially for the evening with his wife Chris Tardieu and their Marine Ecologist, Laure de Ville d'Avray, shared, "We often believe ourselves to be alone and isolated in our convictions, but all it takes is one evening, a setting, a team, and the world clings to you. At that moment, anything can be achieved. I believe in humanity; the only problem lies in understanding our priorities. This evening has shown us that civil society can accomplish great things and be a catalyst for renewal. We must mobilize it for the benefit of all and, especially, for the new generations."
 HER Planet Earth, now in its seventh year of operation, continues to pioneer innovative fundraising approaches for its charity partners. Their unique initiatives involve embarking on challenging expeditionary journeys across the globe. What sets this organisation apart is its unwavering dedication to supporting causes that champion gender equality and the empowerment of women impacted by climate change. In May 2022, the HER Planet Earth all-female dive team embarked on a week-long expedition to Pangatalan Island in Palawan, Philippines. Partnering with the Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation, their mission was to revive the island's coral reef ecosystems. This dedicated team expertly installed three artificial reefs and nurtured 30 "fragments of hope" coral pieces. As a result, the reef has seamlessly integrated into the Sulubaaï Foundation's MPA, fortifying the Coral Triangle—an awe-inspiring marine biodiversity haven that hosts 30% of the world's coral reefs. Notably, the HER Planet Earth team engaged with women from diverse backgrounds in the Sandoval Barangay communities surrounding Shark Fin Bay, the location of Pangatalan Island. This engagement included leaders, fisherfolk, educators, farmers, homemakers, students, and mothers. Their aim was to heighten environmental awareness and foster meaningful dialogues about optimal conservation strategies for the region. The Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation has been meticulously rejuvenating the 4.5-hectare island for the past 13 years, transforming it into a self-sustaining ecosystem. Their accomplishments include planting over 80,000 trees, establishing it as a Marine Protected Area (MPA), and launching a comprehensive mangrove restoration initiative. A standout component of their efforts is the Sulu Reef Prosthesis (SRP)—an innovative artificial concrete reef system acknowledged by UNESCO. Since 2017, the foundation has placed over 300 SRPs within its MPA, relocating more than 2,500 coral fragments spanning over 15 genera and 30 hard coral species. Further enhancing the island's sustainability, the foundation established an organic farm, integrated a waste management system, and installed solar panels, all instrumental in achieving the island's carbon-negative status.  Why It Matters: According to WWF's Living Planet Index, marine life—including mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish—has seen a staggering decline of nearly 50% between 1979 and 2012. Climate change poses a dire threat to corals; since the 1950s, the global expanse of living coral has been halved. Corals, essentially tiny animals termed polyps, form underwater colonies that serve as vital habitats for fish. Mangroves, with their exceptional carbon-absorbing capabilities, intake 10 times more carbon than typical trees and offer crucial protection against natural disasters like typhoons and floods, as well as erosion. Guests attending the "Into the Blue" event savoured drinks from LGT's private collection and canapés from Karana, a Singapore food start-up poised to become Asia's first whole-plant-based meat brand. Guests were immersed in a compelling short film presented on a 360° panoramic screen in Catapult's stunning facilities at 1 Rochester Park. All proceeds from the event are dedicated to supporting the Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation and its programs in coral restoration. Christine Amour-Levar, Founder of HER Planet Earth and Ambassador Sulubaaï, emphasized, "The heart of this event lies in amplifying the need to rejuvenate our marine biodiversity. Our primary concern is food security, as local communities heavily rely on marine resources for sustenance. To cultivate a thriving ecosystem, we must foster active participation from local stakeholders, enlighten our youth, and ensure that adults recognize the economic potential of safeguarding and efficiently managing our oceans. It's this forward-thinking approach that we must embrace for our future." About Her Planet Earth
Based in Singapore, HER Planet Earth is a non-profit organization championing the dual causes of women's empowerment and climate change mitigation. At its heart, the organization strives to motivate more women to step into roles as policymakers and change-makers, driving both societal equity and a flourishing planet. With a spirit of adventure, HER Planet Earth curates impactful and self-financed global expeditions that spotlight environmental challenges while fundraising for initiatives supporting vulnerable women impacted by climate change. The organization stands strong with a diverse coalition including environmentalists, scientists, adventurers, women's rights champions, businesses, tech innovators, and like-minded charities. Together, they reinforce the intrinsic link between gender equality, sustainable development, and environmental conservation. www.HERplanetearth.com About The Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation Initiated by Frédéric and Chris Tardieu, the Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation stands as a beacon of conservation in Palawan, dedicating itself to the preservation, protection, and rejuvenation of the region's natural assets for the local community's betterment. Over a span of 13 years, the foundation has masterfully revitalized Pangatalan Island, a 4.5-hectare sanctuary, steering it towards ecological self-sustainability. Their extensive contributions encompass planting a staggering 80,000 trees, inaugurating a Marine Protected Area (MPA), fortifying mangrove ecosystems, and pioneering the Sulu Reef Prosthesis (SRPs) — a ground-breaking artificial reef system acknowledged by UNESCO. From 2017 onwards, they've strategically positioned over 300 SRPs across various coral rubble zones within their MPA, enabling the transplantation of 2,500 coral fragments that span more than 15 genera and encompass 30 hard coral species. https://sulubaai-foundation.com. About LGT (The Liechtenstein Global Trust) – Official Sponsor Established in 1921 in Liechtenstein, LGT stands as a distinguished private bank, overseeing CHF 285 billion in assets for affluent clients worldwide. LGT's robust performance is anchored in its synergy with the Princely Family's investment vision, its prowess in sustainable investing, and its specialized offerings in asset structuring and philanthropic guidance. Recognizing its formidable financial standing, both Moody's and Standard & Poor's have endowed LGT with premier ratings. The bank's forward-thinking, risk-aware ethos, and unwavering reliability resonate deeply with clients, particularly in volatile climates. Entrepreneurs and proactive investors are drawn to LGT's innovative and elite investment avenues. Combining vast experience with sustainability and fiscal robustness, LGT remains a beacon in global wealth management. https://www.lgt.com/sg-en Robb Report – Official Media Partner Robb Report Singapore is the industry's leading publication in luxury lifestyle. It stands as the foremost authority on luxury lifestyle in the industry. With a mission to consistently showcase life's finest offerings, they curate unparalleled experiences for high-net-worth individuals. https://www.robbreport.com.sg/ About Catapult – Official Venue Partner Catapult is Southeast Asia's first Shared Executive Learning Centre in Singapore's Rochester Park area. Designed as a Learner's Playground, it aims to groom future leaders through immersive and experiential learning journeys. Catapult bases its experiential learning approach around The Neuroscience of Learning and Motivation, focusing on emotion, experimentation, and social interaction to enhance the learning experience. Its curriculum revolves around 3 pillars: Leadership, Innovation, and Energy for Peak Performance. With state-of-the-art facilities, including a 360 immersive space, Catapult provides the perfect setting for the event. The film to be showcased during the event will be specially edited for Catapult's 360 room, allowing guests to experience a captivating 360° film experience. Catapult is a 2-storey learning centre within a campus-style integrated development called Rochester Commons, that includes a Citadines Connect business hotel, corporate offices, restaurants, and heritage bungalows. Catapult is developed and managed by CapitaLand Development. www.catapult.com.sg About Karana – Official Food Sponsor KARANA leads the way in a new category of meat derived from jackfruit. The company firmly believes that consumers shouldn't have to compromise on taste, health, or sustainability when making food choices. Indeed, KARANA goes beyond merely sustainable with jackfruit, their star ingredient, aiming to introduce biodiversity to dining tables. With jackfruit's naturally meaty texture, they minimize ingredient and processing interventions while maximizing authentic, juicy flavours. Commitment to responsible sourcing is a cornerstone for KARANA, as evidenced by their support for small shareholder farmers in Sri Lanka. Founded in Singapore in 2018, KARANA has since introduced its products in their local market, Hong Kong, and the Bay Area. www.eatkarana.com For media queries, please contact: Christine Amour-Levar (Founder and CEO, Her Planet Earth) - Email: christine@herplanetearth.com 4/14/2022 All-Female DivE Team to work on Coral Reef Restoration with the Sulubaaï FOUNDATION of the PhilippinesRead Now  For Immediate Release In May 2022, an all-female diving team from Singapore, Australia and Europe will spend a week on Pangatalan island in Palawan, Philippines to work on restoring its coral reef in partnership with the Sulubaaï Foundation. Created in 2012, the Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation is a Philippine-based non-profit organisation dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring the natural resources of Palawan through environmentally sustainable practices and active ecosystems restoration. The foundation's work is mainly focused on the island of Pangatalan and its surroundings in the Shark Bay region. The group under the banner of HER Planet Earth, a Singapore-based NGO that promotes female empowerment and environmental conservation will participate in multiple coral grafting dives, which will involve fixing unstable coral fragments on concrete support structures called SRPs (or Sulu-Reef Prostheses) directly or indirectly on strong reef structures using nails and wire. "The Sulubaaï Foundation is excited to host the team of divers from HER Planet Earth this year. The collaboration provides a unique opportunity for an adventurous group of women from around the world to connect directly with the rich but threatened marine life of Palawan while supporting a model of community-led conservation that delivers tangible and sustainable results", said Frederic Tardieu, Founder of the Sulubaaï Foundation. He added, “We wholeheartedly believe in the power of women to create change, impact a community, a nation and the world - for the better. And we look forward to working closely with our partners, HER Planet Earth on this important conservation initiative.” In 2016, a 41-hectare Marine Protected Area surrounding the island was established and placed under the responsibility of the foundation - and defined as a “No Take Zone” to improve the resilience of ecosystems such as coral reefs, other marine life and fish stock surrounding the island. Then in 2019, neighbouring villages realised the positive impact on fish biomass and wanted to go a step further, and this is how the idea of the SEA Academy was born. The SEA Academy focuses on ecosystem preservation, education & training, economic development and scientific research. The core of the project is the creation of three participative marine protected areas managed by the local communities. It will directly benefit the population of the villages of Shark Fin Bay (Palawan, Philippines) and students from Philippine Universities. Over the next three years, the SEA Academy will help decrease illegal fishing practices, and improve the state of the coral reefs while increasing fish population. Its educational program about the marine ecosystems will focus on sustainable management of marine resources. while increasing fish population. Its educational program about the marine ecosystems will focus on sustainable management of marine resources. HER Planet Earth Founder, Christine Amour-Levar, who is also an Ambassador for the SEA Academy Project shared, "the main objective of the project is to restore the marine biodiversity. The main stake is food security since local populations critically depend on marine resources for their protein income. If we want to build a healthier ecosystem, it is necessary to create conditions for involvement of local actors, to educate younger generations and to enable adults to understand that protection of the sea and its good management is also source of wealth and economy. This is the kind of future we need to move towards."
 Island revegetation and water run off Because of the deforestation of the island before 2011, the island’s soil had been severely damaged and eroded during past rainy seasons. The phenomena was compromising the integrity of the remaining vegetation and impacting the coral reef due to siltation (a process by which water becomes dirty as a result of fine mineral particles infiltrating it). Since 2013, more than 39,000 native flowers, plants and trees have been replanted. Infrastructures have also been built (retention tanks and water-flow moderators) in order to help restore the soil and considerably reduce water run-off from the land. Thanks to the foundation's work, since 2016, the vegetation of the island has returned to a sustainable and healthy level. Mangroves replanting The marine protected area includes 2.5 hectares of mangroves ecosystems. Unfortunately, 20% had been destroyed prior to 2011 due to the cutting down of mangrove trees to make charcoal. Mangroves constitute a key ecosystem and are extremely functional. Thus, in order to facilitate their regrowth, the foundation planted 5,000 propagules in a nursery and transplanted around 1,000 plants in May 2016. Today the Sulubaaï team is continuously gardening and taking care of the plants that are thankfully thriving. A Marine Protected Area The 41-hectare Marine Protected Area surrounding the island includes a fringing reef (a coral reef that lies close to the shore) and one isolated reef (pinnacle). In total, 12 ecosystems are present in the area and constitute a highly diversified environment. The Marine Protected Area is defined as a “No Take Zone” and aims to improve the resilience of ecosystems such as coral reefs, other marine life and fish stock surrounding the island. In the past, the area suffered from a massive bleaching event (2010) and was commonly exploited for fishing using dynamite and cyanide. Today, the foundation constantly measures the efficiency of their restoration methods in the Marine Protected Area, by monitoring and surveying the environment and ecosystems using a photo transect method. Photo transects involve taking evenly measured photos of the reef bottom. This not only gives the foundation a permanent record of the reef condition, but it also allows them to do a more detailed analysis after each dive.   Find out more: About HER Planet Earth: HER Planet Earth is a global advocacy movement that promotes a deeper connection between women empowerment and the integrity of the environment. The non-profit organisation, which is headquartered in Singapore, aims to inspire more people to become policymakers and agents of change in order to achieve social and economic equity and a healthy and thriving planet. HER Planet Earth organises pioneering and self-funded expeditions around the world to increase awareness of environmental degradation and raise funds for programmes that empower and educate underprivileged women affected by climate change - ultimately helping them build climate resilience. About The Sulubaaï Foundation: In 1992, French business developer Fred Tardieu and his wife packed up their belongings and departed from their home, careers and ease of familiarity to pursue what they thought would be a well-earned retirement. Little did they know at the time, their unassuming plunge into adventure would lead them to become trailblazing marine conservationists in the Philippines. Driven by their love for the ocean and eagerness for bettering the world, in 2011 they purchased Pangatalan Island in Palawan and founded the Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation, where they work alongside conservation partners and local community members to restore the island’s unique ecosystems which had been damaged from unsustainable practices in the past. Alongside their partners, in 2017, they established a 45-hectare marine protected area (MPA) surrounding the island – with another MPA double its size currently in the works. Since 2015, the Sulubaaï Foundation team counts full dedicated marine biologists experts who manage the restoration of marine ecosystems in the marine protected area of Pangatalan. The staff counts also 20 members from nearby villages who contribute to the warm hospitality on the island. https://sulubaai-foundation.com To see pictures of the HER Planet Earth team’s journey, ‘LIKE’ their Facebook page, follow them on Twitter and Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/herplanetearth/ https://www.instagram.com/herplanetearth/ https://twitter.com/herplanet_earth  |
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