IMpact
Schwab Grant
2023
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Capital Grant Commitment
Thanks to the generous commitment of a capital grant over two years, Sustainable Surf has evolved to the next level.
These funds have been used for investment in following four areas. Click the numbers below to skip to a section.
YEAR
2023
2024
ORIGINAL GRANT PURPOSE
Sustainable Surf expected to look for matching funds. Money delivered in March 2023.
Committed to ensure the completion of the Kelp Carbon Study, or use these funds for other new innovative SeaTrees projects.
001
SeaTrees Project Innovation
Our goal with SeaTrees has always been to innovate and push the envelope on blue carbon project development.
However, so-called “biodiversity markets” have emerged as a much larger and immediate opportunity. Sales of biodiversity credits are projected to grow from <$1M in 2023 to $2B by 2030.
Thanks to this grant, we are poised to be a world leader in marine biodiversity credits in 2024. Taking priority over carbon credits.
SeaTrees will define a new paradigm for the restoration of marine ecosystems blending science, technology, and sustainable development with cutting-edge ecosystem market mechanisms.
PROJECT
Kelp Carbon Study
Coral Restoration Science
New Project Development Fund
NOTES
Supports ongoing research on dissolved organic carbon emitted from kelp forests.
We spent the past 12 months developing a coral reef MRV technology package with Scripps.
Funds were allocated toward developing new projects in 2023 that were innovative and/or do not have SeaTrees donors attached.
New Project Development Breakdown
Sunflower Star
Labs
Mangrove Planting
in Supiori, Indonesia
= 2,500 Mangroves Planted
Kelp Forest Restoration
in Monterey, CA
Watershed Restoration in Cardiff, CA
= 3,750 Sq-ft Restored
Seagrass/ Algae Restoration in Mallorca, Spain
= 15,000 Sq-ft Restored
SeaTrees Community Platform
Oyster Reef Restoration in Broad Cove, Maine
= 80,000 Sq-Ft Restored
Kelp Forest Restoration
in Cascais, Portugal
Mangrove Planting and Content Creation in Marereni, Kenya
= 5,000 Stones Seeded
= 80,000 Mangroves Planted
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SeaTrees Donor Experience
The blockchain project is currently in development. We expect a prototype in June and plan to release publicly at the Biodiversity COP in October.
We will soon issue biodiversity credits for every SeaTrees project, and become one of the world’s leaders in marine biodiversity credits.
Scripps is helping us create the biodiversity science backbone for the credits.
This will empower the next exponential growth opportunity for SeaTrees.
PROJECT
Blockchain transparency
Customer experience /
Brand update
NOTES
Blockchain impact database coupled with digital receipts for donors using NFT technology.
Significantly improve the donor experience on the website. New more refined look and feel. Integrates with digital receipt.
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SeaTrees Content Creation
In 2023, we hired a full-time content creator and social media coordinator. This significantly improved our ability to produce films, content and other media.
A signature film is being produced by the BBC, which will release on World Oceans Day.
PROJECT
Content Creator Position + Equipment
Content Full Refresh
Social Media Position
Kelp Science Film / Natural Selection Tour Content
ECOBOARD Project Program Refresh
NOTES
Hired Kent Johnson as our full-time content creator.
Produced our BBC Blue Horizons film plus travel to produce films at other SeaTrees project locations.
Hired Kailani Weatherall as our Social Media Coordinator.
Natural Selection Tour film produced in 2023. Kelp Carbon Science Film currently in production.
Hired full-time program manager (Tyler Fox) and invested resources into growing this program.
In a pivot from our original grant proposal, we filled an acute need for the ECOBOARD Project, which had been eclipsed by SeaTrees.
There is strong interest for this program around the world, especially in Europe. But we had not been able to properly service this interest.
Thus, we hired pro surfer Tyler Fox as a full-time program manager and drive engagement with surfboard builders globally.
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Case Study - Samsung Partnership
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BACKGROUND
With the support of Schwab funds in 2021, we connected Scripps scientists and GoPro to make 3D models of coral reef restoration. This proved very effective at reef monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV).
In early 2023, we created plans to expand this technology using artificial intelligence to scale up image processing and data analysis. This would greatly increase coral reef restoration funding, if we could find a foundation to fund development (~$2m over two years).
SAMSUNG OPPORTUNITY
In October 2023, Samsung asked if SeaTrees projects could utilize the cameras and AI features of the Galaxy phones. Thanks to our prior work, we created the most ambitious SeaTrees project yet.
REVOLUTIONIZE CORAL REEF RESTORATION
At the end of our 2-year project with Scripps, supported by Samsung, anyone with a phone can more effectively monitor their reef restoration project. This effectively “democratizes” reef restoration.
SeaTrees will be able to fund and operate many more coral restoration projects through this partnership.
Samsung will also produce PR about SeaTrees using their global brand power.
Dr. Stuart Sandin shows how phones can revolutionize coral reef imaging
Click to
Download
Full Proposal
for all details
Due to the availability of these funds from the Schwab Capital Grant, we were able to focus on the aforementioned three areas, giving us the necessary tools to pursue this opportunity to partner with Samsung, resulting in our collaborative new coral reef restoration project.
As a result of this successful partnership with Samsung, this project’s visibility, along with our organization as a whole, will experience significant growth and reach in the upcoming months.
Samsung plans to feature this story in their global communications throughout this year, including their involvement in the 2024 Olympics and sponsorship of the Olympics Surfing Events.