{"lien_WSTV":"","tax_name":"deprecated","tax_rate":20,"id_manufacturer":"0","id_supplier":"0","id_category_default":"510","id_shop_default":"1","manufacturer_name":false,"supplier_name":false,"name":"Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition IV","description":"<p><strong>Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition IV<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Oris returns to the water with a 2,000-piece limited-edition created in<\/p>\n<p>support of the Australian non-profit Reef Restoration Foundation and our mission to bring Change for the Better<\/p>\n<p><strong>Nature\u2019s call<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Major coral bleaching events have left the world\u2019s reefs in great peril. Oris is partnering with the pioneering non-profit Reef Restoration Foundation to conserve and protect these life-giving natural bodies<\/p>\n<p>Climate change is having a devastating impact on the world\u2019s coral reefs. According to the Australian Institute of Marine Science, aerial surveys of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park show 73 per cent of surveyed reefs have what they call \u201cprevalent bleaching\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>In March, the Great Barrier Reef suffered a fifth mass bleaching event, whereby elevated water temperatures distress coral so that it expels tiny algae from its tissues, turning it white. If conditions are prolonged, it will die.<\/p>\n<p>Why does this matter? According to the US-based National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, reefs occur in less than 1 per cent of the ocean yet are home to nearly a quarter of all ocean species. These species sustain the health of our oceans, which produce 70 per cent of the world\u2019s oxygen. Reefs also contribute trillions of dollars annually to the global economy. Our planet depends on their survival.<\/p>\n<p>In 2016, Reef Restoration Foundation was set up to combat the effects of coral bleaching. The Australian non- profit specialises in ocean-based coral nurseries, growing coral in a bid to conserve these biodiverse ecosystems and vital life sources.<\/p>\n<p>Oris partnered with Reef Restoration Foundation in 2018 on our mission to bring Change for the Better. \u201cOris is climate neutral and committed to the UN\u2019s 17 Sustainable Development Goals,\u201d says Co-CEO Rolf Studer. \u201cSupporting the Reef Restoration Foundation is a joy and we\u2019re delighted to shine a light on their work to counter the effects of climate change on the world\u2019s reefs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now, we\u2019re introducing the 2,000-piece Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition IV, a version of the new Aquis Date Calibre 400 to support the foundation\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Diving deep<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition IV features a stunning gradient dial and houses our Calibre 400 five-day automatic<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re delighted to present the Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition IV, a watch created to celebrate and support the mission of our Australian non-profit partner Reef Restoration Foundation.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s based on the next-generation Aquis Date Calibre 400, released at Watches and Wonders Geneva earlier this year, but with a few extra details designed to capture the foundation\u2019s story.<\/p>\n<p>These start with the vivid gradient blue dial, which captures both the turquoise and blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef from the air and also the refraction of the sun\u2019s rays through water. This is the one of the few times we\u2019ve made a watch with a dial gradient that falls vertically from 12 o\u2019clock, rather than emanating from the centre position. The watch also has a grey tungsten bezel insert, and features a case back with special engravings, including the limited-edition number. The watch is limited to 2,000 pieces.<\/p>\n<p>Below the surface, you\u2019ll find our game- changing Calibre 400, our in-house five- day automatic that delivers elevated everyday anti-magnetism, 10-year recommended service intervals and a 10- year warranty (with sign up to MyOris).<\/p>\n<p>The base is the Aquis Date 43.50 mm, our refined modern versatile toolwatch with 30 bar (300 metres) of water resistance. Its stainless steel case, screw-in crown, crown protection, uni-directional rotating bezel and three-link bracelet have all been redesigned for improved ergonomics and performance. As with all Aquis Date Calibre 400 models, it also features the Oris-patented strap change and quick adjustment systems, both designed for ease-of-use and versatility.<\/p>\n<p>The new watch will directly support our ongoing financial commitment to the foundation\u2019s coral-tree-planting mission.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Survival instincts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ryan Donnelly joined Reef Restoration Foundation as its CEO in 2020. Here he explains the foundation\u2019s mission and why it\u2019s so important<\/p>\n<p>Ryan, good to meet you. Tell us a bit about yourself\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Great to meet you too! My name\u2019s Ryan Donnelly and I\u2019m CEO of Reef Restoration Foundation. I\u2019ve got a diverse background, but I\u2019ve always been close to the marine sector and had jobs that combined advocacy and collaboration. While coral reefs have been the most consistent theme in my working life, when I\u2019m on holiday, you\u2019ll find me high in the mountains where I love to walk long distances in those remote and formidable environments.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s the backstory behind Reef Restoration Foundation?<\/p>\n<p>In 2016, the northern third of the Great Barrier Reef was subject to an intense marine heat wave that caused the worst coral bleaching ever seen. This event effected more than 90 per cent of coral reefs between Cairns and Cape York on the northern tip of Australia. Many scientists were shocked by the extent of the effects. A local marine aquarium hobbyist had the idea to start an organisation that would replicate the work of a group in the Florida Keys that had been actively restoring coral reefs since 2007. And so Reef Restoration Foundation was born.<\/p>\n<p>Where does the foundation operate today, and what projects are you currently focusing on?<\/p>\n<p>The foundation is solely focused on coral nurseries on the Great Barrier Reef. We now have three sites. Fitzroy Island is a near-shore fringing reef and is our R&amp;D site where we experiment and innovate. Hastings Reef is a mid-shelf reef that has struggled to recover after Category 5 cyclones in 2007 and 2011, then mass bleaching in 2016 and 2017. And Moore Reef is another mid-shelf reef with a high rate of visitation. It is our main production site where we have the greatest capacity on our permits. For whatever reason, Moore Reef has roared back to life since 2017, whereas Hastings Reef has not. Our sole focus is our Resilience &amp; Recovery programme whereby we attach coral fragments directly and permanently to the fibreglass \u201cbranches\u201d of our mobile \u201ctree\u201d frame, mid-water nurseries. The purpose is to create and preserve spawning stock to add billions of coral larvae to the environment year after year.<\/p>\n<p>What challenges are you currently experiencing as you look to fulfil the foundation\u2019s mission?<\/p>\n<p>We continue to face many regulatory hurdles, including marine parks permitting and Workplace Health &amp; Safety laws, which inevitably translates to higher costs. The trajectory in this regard suggests that the cost of the operation will remain challenging to sustain. The need for higher revenue is confronted by a cost-of-living crisis that is gripping many parts of the world. And the market for business sponsorships and philanthropy is increasingly contested.<\/p>\n<p>Why do reefs matter?<\/p>\n<p>Coral reefs are found in over 100 countries around the world. They underpin ocean biodiversity and provide important economic, social, and cultural benefits. Over 800 species of reef building corals create habitats for an estimated one third of all named marine species, excluding microbes and fungi. Scientists estimate that more than 90 per cent of coral reef species have not been named and that total reef species numbers could exceed 800,000. This level of diversity is particularly impressive given that reefs only cover about 285,000 km2, which is less than 1 per cent of the surface area of the ocean. Coral reefs are also rich with symbiotic relationships amongst species, honed by millions of years of evolution. Coral reefs benefit an estimated one billion people, either directly or indirectly, from the many ecosystem services they provide. Estimates indicate coral reefs provide up to $2.7 trillion per year in services, including providing critical natural infrastructure that protects increasingly vulnerable coastlines from storms and flooding, food security for vulnerable populations, tourism revenue and even raw materials for medicines.<\/p>\n<p>What are the greatest threats to reefs? Climate change is the greatest threat to coral reefs globally. On the Great Barrier Reef, there is substantial public investment to control infestation populations of coral predators, improve water quality, limit the impacts of coastal development, and ensure our fisheries are well managed. However, these measures merely serve to mitigate against the global impacts of the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that are causing the planet to warm. Since the Cambrian Explosion more than half a billion years ago that saw a dramatic rise in species diversity and ecology, there have been five mass extinction events, each driven by natural events that caused the climate to change. These events took tens to hundreds-of-thousands of years to play out and were irreversible. The current rate of warming is driven by the actions of a single species and is hundreds of times faster than occurred during those extinction events. The difference is that the current trajectory is reversible. Even with rapid reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, it\u2019s expected that biodiversity will decline in every ecosystem over the next couple of decades as the natural adaptive capacity of every species is challenged. Coral reefs and tropical rainforests are particularly susceptible.<\/p>\n<p>We hear more and more about coral bleaching \u2013 what is it, what causes it and how significant is the problem? Coral bleaching is a natural stress response. The stress can be caused by inundation from freshwater or prolonged exposure to high levels of irradiance from the sun in very calm conditions. Over the past 40 years or so, we have seen coral bleaching occur on a much larger scale, but the driver of the stress has been prolonged exposure to elevated water temperature. The coral animal gains its colour from a symbiosis with a microalga called zooxanthellae whose photosynthesis feeds the coral. The zooxanthellae have a range of thermal tolerance, which when exceeded can compromise performance and cause the coral animal to eject it. This removes the colour and gives the coral the appearance of being bleached. The coral does not die from bleaching but can literally starve to death if conditions do not moderate within a window of about a month. These events are occurring earlier in the summer, becoming more intense with higher temperatures, lasting longer, and are growing in geographical expanse. The current coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef is the fifth mass coral bleaching event in the past eight years and the largest to date. It is part of a global coral bleaching event that has caused mass coral mortality.<\/p>\n<p>How is the foundation working to mitigate for these bleaching events? All efforts to assist coral reefs aim to buy time while the world moves to a low carbon future. Our intervention is designed to slow the rate of biodiversity decline by slowing the overall rate of change. Our coral nurseries are designed so that they can be lowered into cooler depths in times of thermal stress. This preserves the spawning stock to help turbo charge recovery at the next annual spawning event.<\/p>\n<p>How is the foundation funded?<\/p>\n<p>We are funded wholly and solely through donations and sponsorships by individuals and businesses far and wide. We have no government funding.<\/p>\n<p>When did you first encounter Oris and how has your partnership developed? Oris came on board as a sponsor in 2018. The arrangement included sponsorship of one coral tree nursery. It also included provision of a number of beautiful watches, a couple of which we have sold to support our programme, and one of which I continue to wear.<\/p>\n<p>What role will the Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition IV play in supporting the foundation and its mission?<\/p>\n<p>It will help us financially as we must now employ a core team of field operatives with requisite skills and experience. Plus, we aim to grow the scale of our operation, which will entail purchase of materials. The arrangement includes five watches that we will use to promote the relationship and to convert to cash in support of our programme.<\/p>\n<p>How can people reading this get involved and support the foundation? In short, we need financial support to sustain our operation. Details of how people can support our mission and how that support will be used can be found on our website (rrf.org.au).<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>","description_short":"","quantity":0,"minimal_quantity":"0","available_now":"","available_later":"","price":3250,"specificPrice":false,"additional_shipping_cost":"0.00","wholesale_price":"0.000000","on_sale":"0","online_only":"0","unity":"","unit_price":0,"unit_price_ratio":"0.000000","ecotax":"0.000000","reference":"400 7790 4185-Set","supplier_reference":"","location":"","width":"0.000000","height":"0.000000","depth":"0.000000","weight":"0.000000","ean13":"","upc":"","link_rewrite":"great-barrier-reef-limited-edition-iv","meta_description":"Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition IV Oris returns to the water with a 2,000-piece limited-edition created in support of the Australian non-profit Reef Resto...","meta_keywords":"","meta_title":"Watch Oris Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition IV | Oris Aquis 400 7790 4185-Set  Stainless Steel - Blue Gradient Dial - Brace...","quantity_discount":"0","customizable":"0","new":false,"uploadable_files":"0","text_fields":"0","active":"1","redirect_type":"","id_product_redirected":"0","available_for_order":"0","available_date":"0000-00-00","condition":"new","show_price":"1","indexed":"0","visibility":"both","date_add":"2024-07-04 12:50:49","date_upd":"2024-07-09 15:15:03","tags":false,"base_price":"3250.000000","id_tax_rules_group":"1","id_color_default":0,"advanced_stock_management":"0","out_of_stock":2,"depends_on_stock":false,"isFullyLoaded":true,"cache_is_pack":"0","cache_has_attachments":"0","is_virtual":"0","id_pack_product_attribute":null,"cache_default_attribute":"0","category":"oris-aquis","pack_stock_type":"0","id":8920,"id_shop_list":null,"force_id":false,"customization_required":false}

{"Compl\u00e9ment":"Stainless Steel - Blue Gradient Dial - Bracelet Stainless Steel ","Statut de vente":"En vente depuis","Date":"July 2024","Nombre d exemplaire":"2000","Sexe":"Homme","Diam\u00e8tre":"43.50 ","Types":"Self-winding","Styles":"Classical","Calibre_autre":"400","Calibre distinction":"COSC certified","Affichage_autre":"Luminous material Indices; hands and lollipop seconds in Super-LumiNova\u00ae ","Complication":"Date, \r\nCentre hands for hours; minutes and seconds, \r\nFine timing device and stop-second,\r\nAccuracy -3\/+5 seconds a day (within COSC tolerances)\r\n","Mati\u00e8re du bo\u00eetier":"Stainless steel","Particularit\u00e9 du boitier":"Screwed-down caseback","Particularit\u00e9 du boitier_autre":"Case back Stainless steel, \r\nSpecial engravings,\r\nStainless steel screw-in security crown,\r\nUni-directional rotating bezel with tungsten bezel insert","Etanch\u00e9it\u00e9":"300 meters","Forme":"Round","Couleur du cadran":"Blue gradient","Verre":"Antireflective coating, Sapphire","Verre_autre":"Domed on both sides","Mati\u00e8re du bracelet":"Stainless steel","Fermeture du bracelet":"Folding buckle ","Plus de caract\u00e9ristiques":"<br\/>\r\nMovement<br\/>\r\nNumber Oris Calibre 400<br\/>\r\nExtra features Highly anti-magnetic<br\/>\r\nWinding Automatic<br\/>\r\nPower reserve 120 hours<br\/>\r\nWarranty Extended to 10 years with MyOris sign-up. Applies to watch and movement. 10-year recommended service intervals. Five-year recommended water-resistance check<br\/>\r\n<br\/>\r\nCase<br\/>\r\nMulti-piece Stainless Steel case<br\/>\r\n<br\/>\r\nDial<br\/>\r\nBlue gradient<br\/>\r\n<br\/>\r\nBracelet \/ Buckles<br\/>\r\nMulti-piece stainless steel metal bracelet with Oris-patented Quick Strap Change System, security folding clasp with Oris-patented quick adjust clasp system<br\/>\r\n<br\/>\r\nLimited edition 2,000 numbered pieces<br\/>\r\n<br\/>\r\nAvailable July 2024"}

Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition IV

Reference: 400 7790 4185-Set

• OVERVIEW
• TECHNICAL SHEET

View larger

Previous

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Next

Display all pictures

Brand  :	Oris
Collection  :	Oris Aquis
Model  :	Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition IV
Reference  :	400 7790 4185-Set
Complement :	Stainless Steel - Blue Gradient Dial - Bracelet Stainless Steel
On sale :	July 2024

3 900 €Recorded list price in FranceI WANT ITADD TO CART

Quantity

The minimum purchase order quantity for the product is 0

Tweet Share

Contact us about this product

REQUEST A PRICE

Price request for Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition IVRef. 400 7790 4185-Set

Your Name ^* :

Your E-mail ^* :

Confirm your E-mail ^* :

Your request has been sent to the seller

CLOSE

Contact us about this product

YOU WANT IT ? WE SEARCH IT !

This fonction is reserved for exclusive members of MyWatchSite.

There is nothing easier than becoming a member!

SIGN IN REGISTER

GO TO Oris WATCHES FOR WOMEN

• Brand  :	Oris
  Collection  :	Oris Aquis
  Model  :	Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition IV
  Reference  :	400 7790 4185-Set
  Complement :	Stainless Steel - Blue Gradient Dial - Bracelet Stainless Steel
  On sale :	July 2024
  List Price :	3 900 €
  Diameter :	43.50 mm
  Styles :	Classical
  Types :	Self-winding
  Calibre :	400
  Calibre distinction :	COSC certified
  Complication :	Date Centre hands for hours; minutes and seconds Fine timing device and stop-second Accuracy -3/+5 seconds a day (within COSC tolerances)
  Case material :	Stainless steel
  Case peculiarity :	Screwed-down caseback Case back Stainless steel Special engravings Stainless steel screw-in security crown Uni-directional rotating bezel with tungsten bezel insert
  Shape :	Round
  Water-resistance :	300 meters
  Dial color :	Blue gradient
  Display :	Luminous material Indices; hands and lollipop seconds in Super-LumiNova®
  Glass :	Antireflective coating Sapphire Domed on both sides
  Strap material :	Stainless steel
  Strap clasp :	Folding buckle
  + More characteristics :	Movement Number Oris Calibre 400 Extra features Highly anti-magnetic Winding Automatic Power reserve 120 hours Warranty Extended to 10 years with MyOris sign-up. Applies to watch and movement. 10-year recommended service intervals. Five-year recommended water-resistance check Case Multi-piece Stainless Steel case Dial Blue gradient Bracelet / Buckles Multi-piece stainless steel metal bracelet with Oris-patented Quick Strap Change System, security folding clasp with Oris-patented quick adjust clasp system Limited edition 2,000 numbered pieces Available July 2024

DESCRIPTION

• Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition IV

  Oris returns to the water with a 2,000-piece limited-edition created in

  support of the Australian non-profit Reef Restoration Foundation and our mission to bring Change for the Better

  Nature’s call

  Major coral bleaching events have left the world’s reefs in great peril. Oris is partnering with the pioneering non-profit Reef Restoration Foundation to conserve and protect these life-giving natural bodies

  Climate change is having a devastating impact on the world’s coral reefs. According to the Australian Institute of Marine Science, aerial surveys of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park show 73 per cent of surveyed reefs have what they call “prevalent bleaching”.

  In March, the Great Barrier Reef suffered a fifth mass bleaching event, whereby elevated water temperatures distress coral so that it expels tiny algae from its tissues, turning it white. If conditions are prolonged, it will die.

  Why does this matter? According to the US-based National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, reefs occur in less than 1 per cent of the ocean yet are home to nearly a quarter of all ocean species. These species sustain the health of our oceans, which produce 70 per cent of the world’s oxygen. Reefs also contribute trillions of dollars annually to the global economy. Our planet depends on their survival.

  In 2016, Reef Restoration Foundation was set up to combat the effects of coral bleaching. The Australian non- profit specialises in ocean-based coral nurseries, growing coral in a bid to conserve these biodiverse ecosystems and vital life sources.

  Oris partnered with Reef Restoration Foundation in 2018 on our mission to bring Change for the Better. “Oris is climate neutral and committed to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals,” says Co-CEO Rolf Studer. “Supporting the Reef Restoration Foundation is a joy and we’re delighted to shine a light on their work to counter the effects of climate change on the world’s reefs.”

  Now, we’re introducing the 2,000-piece Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition IV, a version of the new Aquis Date Calibre 400 to support the foundation’s mission.

  Diving deep

  The Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition IV features a stunning gradient dial and houses our Calibre 400 five-day automatic

  We’re delighted to present the Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition IV, a watch created to celebrate and support the mission of our Australian non-profit partner Reef Restoration Foundation.

  It’s based on the next-generation Aquis Date Calibre 400, released at Watches and Wonders Geneva earlier this year, but with a few extra details designed to capture the foundation’s story.

  These start with the vivid gradient blue dial, which captures both the turquoise and blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef from the air and also the refraction of the sun’s rays through water. This is the one of the few times we’ve made a watch with a dial gradient that falls vertically from 12 o’clock, rather than emanating from the centre position. The watch also has a grey tungsten bezel insert, and features a case back with special engravings, including the limited-edition number. The watch is limited to 2,000 pieces.

  Below the surface, you’ll find our game- changing Calibre 400, our in-house five- day automatic that delivers elevated everyday anti-magnetism, 10-year recommended service intervals and a 10- year warranty (with sign up to MyOris).

  The base is the Aquis Date 43.50 mm, our refined modern versatile toolwatch with 30 bar (300 metres) of water resistance. Its stainless steel case, screw-in crown, crown protection, uni-directional rotating bezel and three-link bracelet have all been redesigned for improved ergonomics and performance. As with all Aquis Date Calibre 400 models, it also features the Oris-patented strap change and quick adjustment systems, both designed for ease-of-use and versatility.

  The new watch will directly support our ongoing financial commitment to the foundation’s coral-tree-planting mission.

  Survival instincts

  Ryan Donnelly joined Reef Restoration Foundation as its CEO in 2020. Here he explains the foundation’s mission and why it’s so important

  Ryan, good to meet you. Tell us a bit about yourself…

  Great to meet you too! My name’s Ryan Donnelly and I’m CEO of Reef Restoration Foundation. I’ve got a diverse background, but I’ve always been close to the marine sector and had jobs that combined advocacy and collaboration. While coral reefs have been the most consistent theme in my working life, when I’m on holiday, you’ll find me high in the mountains where I love to walk long distances in those remote and formidable environments.

  What’s the backstory behind Reef Restoration Foundation?

  In 2016, the northern third of the Great Barrier Reef was subject to an intense marine heat wave that caused the worst coral bleaching ever seen. This event effected more than 90 per cent of coral reefs between Cairns and Cape York on the northern tip of Australia. Many scientists were shocked by the extent of the effects. A local marine aquarium hobbyist had the idea to start an organisation that would replicate the work of a group in the Florida Keys that had been actively restoring coral reefs since 2007. And so Reef Restoration Foundation was born.

  Where does the foundation operate today, and what projects are you currently focusing on?

  The foundation is solely focused on coral nurseries on the Great Barrier Reef. We now have three sites. Fitzroy Island is a near-shore fringing reef and is our R&D site where we experiment and innovate. Hastings Reef is a mid-shelf reef that has struggled to recover after Category 5 cyclones in 2007 and 2011, then mass bleaching in 2016 and 2017. And Moore Reef is another mid-shelf reef with a high rate of visitation. It is our main production site where we have the greatest capacity on our permits. For whatever reason, Moore Reef has roared back to life since 2017, whereas Hastings Reef has not. Our sole focus is our Resilience & Recovery programme whereby we attach coral fragments directly and permanently to the fibreglass “branches” of our mobile “tree” frame, mid-water nurseries. The purpose is to create and preserve spawning stock to add billions of coral larvae to the environment year after year.

  What challenges are you currently experiencing as you look to fulfil the foundation’s mission?

  We continue to face many regulatory hurdles, including marine parks permitting and Workplace Health & Safety laws, which inevitably translates to higher costs. The trajectory in this regard suggests that the cost of the operation will remain challenging to sustain. The need for higher revenue is confronted by a cost-of-living crisis that is gripping many parts of the world. And the market for business sponsorships and philanthropy is increasingly contested.

  Why do reefs matter?

  Coral reefs are found in over 100 countries around the world. They underpin ocean biodiversity and provide important economic, social, and cultural benefits. Over 800 species of reef building corals create habitats for an estimated one third of all named marine species, excluding microbes and fungi. Scientists estimate that more than 90 per cent of coral reef species have not been named and that total reef species numbers could exceed 800,000. This level of diversity is particularly impressive given that reefs only cover about 285,000 km2, which is less than 1 per cent of the surface area of the ocean. Coral reefs are also rich with symbiotic relationships amongst species, honed by millions of years of evolution. Coral reefs benefit an estimated one billion people, either directly or indirectly, from the many ecosystem services they provide. Estimates indicate coral reefs provide up to $2.7 trillion per year in services, including providing critical natural infrastructure that protects increasingly vulnerable coastlines from storms and flooding, food security for vulnerable populations, tourism revenue and even raw materials for medicines.

  What are the greatest threats to reefs? Climate change is the greatest threat to coral reefs globally. On the Great Barrier Reef, there is substantial public investment to control infestation populations of coral predators, improve water quality, limit the impacts of coastal development, and ensure our fisheries are well managed. However, these measures merely serve to mitigate against the global impacts of the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that are causing the planet to warm. Since the Cambrian Explosion more than half a billion years ago that saw a dramatic rise in species diversity and ecology, there have been five mass extinction events, each driven by natural events that caused the climate to change. These events took tens to hundreds-of-thousands of years to play out and were irreversible. The current rate of warming is driven by the actions of a single species and is hundreds of times faster than occurred during those extinction events. The difference is that the current trajectory is reversible. Even with rapid reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, it’s expected that biodiversity will decline in every ecosystem over the next couple of decades as the natural adaptive capacity of every species is challenged. Coral reefs and tropical rainforests are particularly susceptible.

  We hear more and more about coral bleaching – what is it, what causes it and how significant is the problem? Coral bleaching is a natural stress response. The stress can be caused by inundation from freshwater or prolonged exposure to high levels of irradiance from the sun in very calm conditions. Over the past 40 years or so, we have seen coral bleaching occur on a much larger scale, but the driver of the stress has been prolonged exposure to elevated water temperature. The coral animal gains its colour from a symbiosis with a microalga called zooxanthellae whose photosynthesis feeds the coral. The zooxanthellae have a range of thermal tolerance, which when exceeded can compromise performance and cause the coral animal to eject it. This removes the colour and gives the coral the appearance of being bleached. The coral does not die from bleaching but can literally starve to death if conditions do not moderate within a window of about a month. These events are occurring earlier in the summer, becoming more intense with higher temperatures, lasting longer, and are growing in geographical expanse. The current coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef is the fifth mass coral bleaching event in the past eight years and the largest to date. It is part of a global coral bleaching event that has caused mass coral mortality.

  How is the foundation working to mitigate for these bleaching events? All efforts to assist coral reefs aim to buy time while the world moves to a low carbon future. Our intervention is designed to slow the rate of biodiversity decline by slowing the overall rate of change. Our coral nurseries are designed so that they can be lowered into cooler depths in times of thermal stress. This preserves the spawning stock to help turbo charge recovery at the next annual spawning event.

  How is the foundation funded?

  We are funded wholly and solely through donations and sponsorships by individuals and businesses far and wide. We have no government funding.

  When did you first encounter Oris and how has your partnership developed? Oris came on board as a sponsor in 2018. The arrangement included sponsorship of one coral tree nursery. It also included provision of a number of beautiful watches, a couple of which we have sold to support our programme, and one of which I continue to wear.

  What role will the Great Barrier Reef Limited Edition IV play in supporting the foundation and its mission?

  It will help us financially as we must now employ a core team of field operatives with requisite skills and experience. Plus, we aim to grow the scale of our operation, which will entail purchase of materials. The arrangement includes five watches that we will use to promote the relationship and to convert to cash in support of our programme.

  How can people reading this get involved and support the foundation? In short, we need financial support to sustain our operation. Details of how people can support our mission and how that support will be used can be found on our website (rrf.org.au).