Santa Cruz, CA – Sustainable Surf launches Project : ‘SeaTrees’ at the 2018 Global Wave Conference

Sustainable Surf is proud to announce the launch of our newest program for restoring and protecting the health of our global oceans and coastlines: project SeaTrees.

SeaTrees will operate as a platform to allow everyone on the planet – starting first with the 120 Million global fans of the sport of surfing – to easily support the development of coastal wetland conservation ” Blue Carbon ” projects (mangrove forest, salt marsh & seagrass ecosystems) around the world.

What’s our first audacious goal for project SeaTrees?  Planting 1 million mangrove trees in the sea within the next year.

Why is this important ? Because Blue Carbon / Coastal Wetlands projects have been identified by teams of global experts as a critical component of the “Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed To Reverse Global Warming” , that can erase the negative impacts caused by global climate change on our ocean planet.

The BAD news – these negative impacts (including ocean acidification, ocean warming, coastal erosion, etc.) , caused primarily by our own use of fossil-fuels to fuel our own lives, must be reversed.  Collectively, they are already wreaking havoc in our oceans by causing: sea levels to rapidly rise, coral reef collapse, sea-water to turn acidic, reduced biodiversity of all marine animals, and severely damaged shorelines.

The GREAT news – there is a very simple solution that can address (and even help reverse) all those impacts on our global oceans…

“Forest protection, and tropical and temperate forest restoration together, are the most powerful solutions available to address global warming.”  – P. 111 from the book DRAWDOWN: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed To Reverse Global Warming / Edited by Paul Hawken

Given that “tropical forest restoration” projects are seen as a key part of the top three “most powerful solutions available to address global warming” in the entire world, we feel it’s imperative to quickly start “reforesting” coastal ecosystems at the massive scale needed,  to reverse the worst effects of a warming global climate.

With that aim in mind – we are initially designing our SeaTrees platform as an online digital portal/website where individuals, brands and organizations can go to quickly calculate their current climate impact; and then become “Climate Positive”, by paying to plant & protect mangrove trees in a qualified Blue Carbon project.

Blue Carbon projects selected to be supported on the SeaTrees platform, will be chosen based on appropriate industry best practices for impact validation/certification, and for their ability to scale up their impact to meet the challenge ahead.The first project that Sustainable Surf has identified as meeting those requirements for SeaTrees is the Thor Heyerdahl Climate Park  (THCP) . It’s located in the South East Asian nation of Myanmar, which has almost 4000 miles of coastline in the Indian Ocean studded with inlets, coral reefs, rocky cliffs, and hundreds of tropical islands (and yes, there is even surf there too!).

THCP is currently undergoing a third party audit to become certified under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), and once complete, will become the largest mangrove reforestation project to receive VCS certification and produce Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) for the international carbon markets. It will restore more than 2,000 hectares of degraded mangrove forest, and has already planted 3.5 million mangroves trees to date. The Park also provides 300 jobs to local villages, and supports 2000 local families with living and educational resources.

The THCP is also one of the most high-tech enabled Blue Carbon carbon projects in the world. It has pioneered mangrove planting by aerial DRONES , transparent mapping, and digital blockchain financing (in the form of TREE coins by project stakeholder Lykke) to help unlock financial support for forest conservation at the level of the individual.

And last but not least – as of this February, the UN Environmental Programme has recognized the THCP as a potential world-changing, scalable model for rapid mangrove restoration around the globe. Furthermore, the IUCN  has confirmed their intent to form a partnership with the nonprofit developer of the THCP, Worldview International , to help create more “climate parks” in Myanmar, and then scale globally. * Please see the recent project video below from Worldview International 

Planting by Drone (pilot project) with Bio-Carbon Engineering at the Thor Heyerdahl Climate Park in Feb 2018

“Many people, including most ocean-minded individuals, inherently understand the real value of restoring coastal ecosystems as a way to protect our oceans – and ourselves. But they need an easier and more engaging pathway to get involved. And that’s why we’re launching project: SeaTrees.”  Michael Stewart, Co-Founder / Sustainable Surf.

The Existential Threats Humans Face

We’re not going to gloss over the severity of the problems facing the health of our oceans. And if our oceans are in trouble, then so are humans; as 70% of the oxygen we breathe, and the majority of animal protein consumed in many developing countries (with the largest populations), comes directly from the sea. All the top scientific organizations around the world are gravely concerned about the existential threats to ourselves (and most other non-bacteria lifeforms) , posed by the well-documented  rapidly changing global climate. And the overwhelming scientific consensus is that we have mere decades (not 50 -100 years) to solve the issue of “global warming” , before the planet’s life support systems pass a series of tipping points that the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans can’t come back from.

And that’s if we start cultivating a “climate” of positive change today – which thankfully, we can!

In fact, we believe that the ultimate key to solving most environmental problems, including climate change, is for individuals & organizations to begin making sustainable choices in their everyday lives that are engaging, cost effective, fulfilling and yes, even perhaps fun!

Or as we simply call it – living a Deep Blue Life

Becoming “Climate Positive”

But, even after we have found all the ways to slash our own climate “footprint ” by making better choices on a daily basis ; most of us will still have some amount of a “carbon footprint” left over that MUST be erased.

And that’s where planting new mangrove trees through SeaTrees comes in as a “positive” step for restabilizing our planet’s “climate” that anyone  (especially those of us in the global surfing community) can take, to reverse their own climate impact on the oceans.

And even better, the benefits of planting mangrove trees and supporting Blue Carbon projects doesn’t just erase (or neutralize) your climate impact ; this type of Sustainable Development project creates a chain-reaction of “positive” benefits that: improve local water quality, control coastal erosion, increase fish stocks by 50%, protect coastlines from storms, and support local communities where the projects are located.  We consider the combination of all those interrelated benefits together as being “Climate Positive.”

So becoming Climate Positive by supporting Blue Carbon projects – is Sustainable Surf’s new vision for re-imagining how all of us can do dramatically “more good” for our oceans and coastlines; instead of just being “less bad.”

And given what’s at stake, it’s clear to us that the old story of being “Climate Neutral” is just not up to the task of regenerating and protecting the health of our ocean home.

“Conserving coastal ecosystems can benefit the atmosphere, enhanced biodiversity, water quality, and storm protection, and respect the rights and well-being of local communities, all at the same time.”  – p. 113 from the book DRAWDOWN: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed To Reverse Global Warming / Edited by Paul Hawken

What is Blue Carbon?

According to our recent collaborators at Conservation International, (who created the Blue Carbon Initiative in partnership with the United Nations in support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals): Blue Carbon is the carbon stored in the coastal and marine ecosystems, which are 5X more effective at sequestering carbon-dioxide than typical forests on land.  Mangrove forests account for 50% of the carbon sequestered in ocean sediments. They also provide crucial habitat for ocean ecosystems, and act as nurseries for fish and invertebrates that inhabit coral reefs.

Unfortunately, Mangrove forests are being cleared at an alarming rate. Over 50% of mangroves have been lost in the last 50 years, and currently account for 10% of world’s CO2 emissions from deforestation.

Planting the Seeds of the SeaTrees project

SeaTrees might be our newest program – but it’s been an old idea just waiting for the right time to be launched at Sustainable Surf, as both founders, Michael Stewart and Kevin Whilden, have been professionally involved in forest carbon projects, climate change science and advocacy for 20+ years combined.

Sustainable Surf co-founder Michael Stewart plants the VW Forest with Volkswagen of America in 2008 while at Carbonfund.org

Before founding Sustainable Surf, Michael worked at nonprofit organization Carbonfund.org, doing project development and management for forest conservation projects. While there, he worked with Volkswagen to plant the “VW Forest” in the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana  (which planted 270,000+ trees and sequestered 400,000+ tons of CO2 ), and helped create the Paso Pacifico “Return to Forest” conservation project in Nicaragua.

This led to Michael’s creation of the Carbon Free Surfing Program , and the partnership with SURFING Magazine in 2007 to “offset” their climate impact with certified tropical forest conservation projects,  along with (now) 11x World Champion surfer Kelly Slater.

And it’s where the idea of the global ocean community coming together to plant a “forest” together was born…

“Along with inspiring the industry, Kelly’s ultimate goal is to get all the surfers on the ASP World Tour to join in, hopefully creating a “Surf Forest” that makes the entire ASP tour “carbon neutral.” “That’ll raise some eyebrows around the world and show a responsible group of people working for the greater good of all mankind,” says Kelly Slater.” – Surfing Magazine / Green Issue  2007

 Our Call-to-Action to support Blue Carbon conservation projects

So… let’s talk about the SeaTrees “call-to-action” introduced by Sustainable Surf co founder Michael Stewart at the 5th Global Wave Conference, during a panel presentation titled: Climate and Sustainability in the Surf Industry.

We’ll go first – Sustainable Surf is publicly committing to become Climate Positive as an organization (flying/driving/office operations) in 2018, through supporting the THCP project via the SeaTrees platform.

We’re looking forward to a groundswell of support from the rest of the global surfing community to do the same, so that together we can reach our first audacious goal – planting 1 million mangrove trees in the sea before the end of 2019. 

Given that our friends over at the World Surfing League estimated the size of their engaged audience reach in 2015 was up to 120 million individuals – it would thereby take less than 1% of the online surfing fans of the world, planting just 1 mangrove tree each in the next year,  to reach our first 1 Million mangrove tree goal.

This would be the beginning of that global “surf forest” that would surely “raise some eyebrows around the world” , about the power of surfing to inspire a “climate” of Positive Change to protect our oceans and coastlines.

And given the power that surf culture has had over the last 100+ years to influence pop culture , and to inspire the rest of the world to want to do what surfers do – we’re going to need a lot more seeds, because the impact of SeaTrees is built grow.

* Please stay tuned to our social media and newsletters, as there will be more news about when the SeaTrees online portal will be going live in early 2019 !  Can’t wait?  Send us an email at info@sustainablesurf.org 

Since 2013, Volcom has partnered with ocean-health non-profit Sustainable Surf to make the Pipe Pro a Deep Blue Event. The longest running Deep Blue Event – continually setting the bar for what it means to make a surf event sustainable.

Since 2013, with the help of Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, the Volcom Pipe Pro has recycled and composted more than 8,000 lbs of material.

The Volcom Pipe Pro is the first major surf event to run on 100% biofuel – made right here in Hawaii. Both of the Pipe houses are also powered by solar – so Volcom family and friends are using home grown power all year long. 

In the 10 years the Pipe Pro has run Volcom has donated nearly $500,000 to local community groups.

The Volcom Pipe Pro is a carbon neutral event. Since 2013 the event has offset more than 2,000 tonnes of carbon.

In 2018, climate change impacts are no longer abstract and hard to experience, and we only have twelve years left to solve the problem. The world needs a new vision of solutions that can match the rate of environmental change.

Our goal is for every surfer and ocean-lover to be “Climate Positive”. Together, we can change the narrative around climate change by focusing on the positive benefits of solving it.

The first step to going Climate Positive is to tell us what climate change means to you, in our Surfer’s Climate Change Survey.

The survey will take you five minutes to complete, and your answers will help us improve our programs to inspire more people and more businesses to take direct action and be a positive part of the solution.

We are grateful for the global Sustainable Surf community who are already making change in their lives and business to protect ocean health and reduce their carbon footprint. For example, in 2018 there were 65,000 ECOBOARDS made in 25 countries by 200 board builders.

This gives us hope, because it proves that our community is already more engaged and more aware than most. Our challenge is to make 2019 the year in which the surf community becomes a global role model for positive solutions to climate change.

We truly believe that surfing can be a force for good, and that we can be that proverbial “small group of thoughtful committed citizens that can change the world.”

Please take the survey! One lucky person will win a free Deep Blue Bag, designed by Yves Behar and built by MAFIA Bags in San Francisco.

Please also consider donating to Sustainable Surf. The support of our community helps us achieve our mission to protect ocean health from the impacts of climate change and plastic pollution.

In the coming year, look out for more information on going Climate Positive through our programs: Deep Blue Life, The ECOBOARD Project, Waste to Waves, and the new SeaTrees Project.

Thank you for being a member of our community. Together we can provide a critical piece of the solution and change the global narrative on climate change.

What does it look like to you? We want to hear about how you think about climate change, and how that factors into the decisions and choices you make - every day.

One lucky person will win a free Deep Blue Bag designed by Yves Behar. Only fully completed surveys are eligible to win. The drawing will occur on December 28th.

Take the Surfer’s Climate Change Survey today

Why this survey matters…

Every surfer experiences a powerful connection to the ocean. But…

How aware are surfers of their own environmental impact on the ocean? …and…

How much do surfers know about their ability to effect positive change on the ocean in everyday life?

These are very important questions.

Why? Because, there are many environmental threats to the ocean, which we can all help solve if we work together. This survey will help us understand the best ways to inspire surfers globally to “protect the ocean playground”.

This survey has been designed by Sustainable Surf, Dr. Greg Borne of the Plymouth Sustainability and Surfing Research Group at the University of Plymouth (UK), and Cynthia Hsia at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. It is full-fledged academic research, and the results will become part of the academic literature on how people and communities engage with environmental issues.

Thank you taking the time to fill out the survey. Your answer will help us design our programs to help grow the community of Deep Blue Surfers, and help everybody live a Deep Blue Life.

Sustainable Surf played a key role and contributed significantly to the language of the Bill, to ensure that it recognizes California’s contribution to the growing movement of sustainability in surf culture, and the value surfing brings to ocean protection.

This new law is clearly a symbolic measure, but symbols matter to people. They tell us who we are, and what we really value.

So the next time a California surf break is threatened by development, water pollution, erosion, lack of public access, or climate change related impacts, the fact that Surfing is now recognized as the State’s official sport, will act as a new tool in the ocean health activist toolkit.

That’s a clear win in our book for everyone in California – and positive cultural shifts emanating from California have a way of making positive impacts all around the world.

Sustainable Surf played a key role in writing language around sustainability in this new law. The full text of the law is at the end of this post. Here’s the key sections that relate to sustainability:

(k) California’s surfing culture is taking a national and global leadership role in promoting sustainability as a core value, while also placing a high value on environmental protection and stewardship, in order to preserve the ocean, waves, coastline, and wildlife that make the state such a unique place to surf, live, and visit.

Surfing is a key economic driver in California, and is the symbol of healthy oceans and beaches that generate over $1 trillion in economic activity every year. This value will be lost if we allow our coasts to be polluted, over-developed and restricted from public access. So this law explicitly recognizes that protecting the coastal environment is also good for the economy, and that surf culture plays a key role in the effort.

(h) California is the heart of the surfboard building industry, which has innovated surfboard technology and pioneered sustainable manufacturing practices and techniques.

The ECOBOARD Project is our organization’s flagship program – and so we felt it was important to highlight in the law that California is the beating heart of the global surfboard industry – which has recently been pioneering more sustainable, ocean-friendly materials and manufacturing practices, that are better for people and the planet.

To commemorate this new Law, we were proud to create a special Gold level certified ECOBOARD with one of California’s leading surfboard brands, Channel Islands Surfboards. The board is built with their Spine-Tek construction, uses Marko Foam recycled EPS, bio-epoxy resin from Entropy Resins, and was glassed by Ryan Harris from Earth Technologies.

And a very special thanks to artist Kevin Mirsky for creating the original  artwork for this ECOBOARD – featuring a surfboard hugging bear, and lyrics from California’s official State Song (called “I Love You California”) that highlight how important the ocean and “her Rugged shore” is to all Californians.

The signing of this Law by Governor Brown of California was covered by international media. Our favorite articles are the following:

• Surfline: “It’s Official: Surfing Is Now California’s State Sport“
• Surfer: “Well, Surfing Is Now California’s State Sport, Officially“
• The Inertia: “Surfing Just Became The State Sport of California“

The full text of AB 1782 is below:

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Surfing is an iconic California sport.
(b) It is important to recognize that surfing traces its origins to the Polynesian people and was imported into California from indigenous Hawaii. Since its arrival in California, surfing has been embraced by the state and many Californians have made important contributions to the sport as we know it today.
(c) California is home to a number of world-famous surf breaks like Malibu, Trestles, Mavericks, Rincon, Steamer Lane, and Huntington, which are destinations for both domestic and international surfers. It is important to remember that California’s coastline is not only home to these surf breaks, but is also the ancestral homeland to indigenous peoples like the Chumash in Malibu, known as “Humaliwu” in the Chumash language, and Rincon, the Acjachemen in Trestles, known as “Panhe” in the Acjachemen language, the Amah Mutsun in Steamer Lane, the Ohlone in Mavericks, and the Acjachemen and Tongva shared territory in Huntington Beach, known as “Lukupangma” in the Tongva and Acjachemen language. These indigenous people continue to live in these ancestral homelands today and have embraced the sport of surfing in these areas.
(d) It is important to acknowledge that the Acjachemen were instrumental in saving Trestles from potential destruction by a proposed toll road in 2008, due to Panhe’s recognition as an ancient Acjachemen village site by the California Coastal Commission.
(e) Every year, California surf breaks host numerous domestic and international surf events, including the International Surf Festival in the Cities of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and Torrance, the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, the Mavericks Big Wave Surf Contest in Half Moon Bay, and the Founders’ Cup of Surfing in Lemoore.
(f) California is home to the Surfers’ Hall of Fame, the International Surfing Museum, and the California Surf Museum.
(g) California’s coastline spans 1,100 miles and its beaches and coastal areas generate $1.15 trillion in economic activity annually.
(h) California is the heart of the surfboard building industry, which has innovated surfboard technology and pioneered sustainable manufacturing practices and techniques.
(i) The world’s first neoprene wetsuit, a modern staple of surfing, was invented in California’s San Francisco Bay area.
(j) California pioneered the science of surf forecasting at the University of California’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Surf forecasting allows surfers around the world to predict when and where to go surfing.
(k) California’s surfing culture is taking a national and global leadership role in promoting sustainability as a core value, while also placing a high value on environmental protection and stewardship, in order to preserve the ocean, waves, coastline, and wildlife that make the state such a unique place to surf, live, and visit.
SEC. 2. Section 424.7 is added to the Government Code, to read:
424.7. Surfing is the official state sport.

We’re excited to start collaborating closer with the Sustainability Working Group within the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) , who has been developing sustainability tools for many years with big companies like Patagonia, REI, The North Face, and many others. In particular, the SWG has been  co-developing the Higg Index with the Sustainable Apparel Coalition to help outdoor industry companies measure and reduce their environmental impact.

Our ECOBOARD Project program has been operating in a similar way for surfing industry companies (related to hard-goods),  and we are excited that the data from our Lifecycle Assessment of a surfboard could likely be integrated into the Higgs Index.

The Outdoor Industry producing $887 billion dollars of economic activity (almost as large as the entire financial industry) and supports 7.9 million American jobs, and so we are keen to be a bridge between the surfing and outdoor industry companies, to share best business practices that can collectively have a big impact on the world we all love to play in .

Stay Tuned…