AI-Powered App Safeguards Global Coral Reefs, Enhancing Monitoring and Protection.

A coral reef health monitoring app, Mermaid, is incorporating AI functionality to protect climate-resilient reefs. Utilizing the Postgres open-source database, Mermaid gathers real-time data on coral reef conditions. The new AI feature enhances data analysis capabilities, detecting patterns and predicting bleaching events before they escalate.

Coral reefs are vital habitats for approximately 25% of marine species but face threats from warming sea waters due to climate change. Mermaid, launched in 2018, has been embraced by over 2,000 scientists from 40 countries. Together, they have contributed data from 50,000 transects across 5,000 coral reef locations globally.

Originally managed through spreadsheets, Mermaid's migration to Postgres has significantly boosted efficiency by fivefold. This transition supports scientists in collaborating with local communities and governments to safeguard coral reefs.

Emily Darling, Mermaid's co-founder, and Coral Reef Conservation Director at the Wildlife Conservation Society, emphasizes the importance of urgent policy actions to combat climate change and leveraging data to preserve climate-resilient coral reefs. The recent AI update, sponsored by EnterpriseDB, aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework's goal to conserve 30% of various ecosystems by 2030.

EnterpriseDB's CEO, Kevin Dallas, highlights the critical role of data democratization, especially concerning ocean preservation. With over 35 years of development, Postgres is recognized for its flexibility and trustworthiness across nonprofits, government bodies, and businesses. This collaboration showcases Postgres' significant impact on environmental conservation efforts globally.