Knowing What To Conserve
Simply put, coral cataloguing helps Sentosa’s conservation team know what marine life the island has and what should be conserved. The data obtained from the cataloguing will be entered into SDC’s marine biodiversity database, which Leanne oversees.
Using information such as the types of species and their habitats, Leanne and her team can identify gaps and changes to Sentosa’s marine biodiversity over time. This aids them in tracking the effect of various factors on marine life, as well as the impact of restoration efforts.
“During my undergraduate days, the phrase ‘you cannot conserve what you don’t know’ was mentioned a lot,” said Leanne, who has a background in Environmental Studies. “I found it very applicable to planning for any conservation efforts.”
Protecting Sensitive Habitats
Some species of marine life in Sentosa, such as coral, are rarer or have higher conservation value. Drawing attention to them attracts visitors, whose actions could be damaging to the species or their habitat. So Leanne’s team decides which species should be shielded from the public eye.
This is also why the exact location of Leanne’s coral cataloguing is kept secret. Currently, the area is only open for researchers, environmental outreach efforts, and staff like Leanne who conduct biodiversity surveys.