Researchers say Olympic Tower construction could damage Tahiti's coral reef ecosystem

A new judging tower is being built in the coral lagoon of Te Aupoo, Tahiti, in preparation for the 2024 Olympic Surfing Competition. Researchers from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, the University of Hilo, Arizona State University and regional partners in Tahiti say the construction poses a threat to the reef and its ecosystem. The group published the results of a study. remote sensing This study assessed the importance of protecting precious coral reefs as an integral part of the ecosystem and as a resource for local communities.

There is an existing judging tower used by the World Surf League, but organizers of the 2024 Paris Olympics will invest approximately US$5 million to provide amenities for the judges, including toilets, air conditioning, and a capacity of 40 people. We plan to build a significantly larger tower.

“We are committed to ensuring that the International Olympic Committee, appropriate government officials and the larger international community ensure that this impact not only affects valuable coral reef habitat, but also the local communities that depend on this reef for their livelihoods and well-being. “I hope people understand how devastating it can be for people,” said the study's lead author, University of Hilo associate professor of marine science and data science, and member of the MEGA Lab. said one John Burns.

In addition to assessing the reef where the structure will be built, the team mapped the lagoon area where the reef is being dredged to accommodate barge transportation of tower materials. This dredging could directly impact 2,500 square meters of coral reef – about half the size of a football field. If this were to happen, it could damage living coral reef habitat and cause an economic impact of at least $1.3 million, the authors report.

The team's impact estimates are conservative and consider only direct impacts, including the potential economic impact on communities dependent on these resources and the much broader impact if water quality is affected. Impacts on the lagoon area are not included.

Map the potential impact

Researchers worked with community members in Vai Ala O Teaupoo and used 3D photogrammetry techniques to create high-resolution habitat maps of the three locations affected by dredging and tower construction. The resulting mosaics were analyzed to quantify species diversity, the number of coral colonies, the size of coral colonies, and the proportion of the seafloor covered by live corals and other organisms.

Data show that these sites support healthy and diverse coral communities and contribute to the ecological functioning of Teupoo's larger reef system. In the 322 square meters (about the size of a tennis court) where the tower will be located, 1,003 corals of 20 species were confirmed to be present, indicating that this area is a coral habitat. .

“The value of these creatures is never fully expressed through the lens of capitalism, but based on U.S. assessments used by the Hawaii Department of Aquatic Resources, our data shows that the value of this small portion of the reef is “We show that the value of the coral and algae alone is estimated to be worth at least $170,000,” said Haunani, co-author and MEGA Lab member and assistant professor of geosciences in the College of Marine and Earth Science and Technology at UH Mānoa.・Mr. Kane said.

Co-author Cliff Kapono, an assistant professor at Arizona State University, said: “We hope that now that we have information about ecological impacts and community concerns, the construction of the tower will be re-evaluated, and that these maps will We hope that this will help hold future vandals accountable.” Belongs to MEGA Lab, University. “Instead of building a new tower, there are options such as using an existing tower that the World Surf League uses for competition.”