Disneynature's 'OCEANS' to save 35,000 acres of coral reef

Initiative is a partnership between the documentary makers and The Nature Conservancy and will protect areas in the Bahamas.

By

Michael d'Estries

Mon, May 03 2010 at 11:07 AM

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Oceans

Disneynature

For the second year in a row, Disneynature has successfully turned the theatrical debut of an environmental documentary into a massive fundraising initiative. It's a partnership that has me hoping other such future "green" films follow suit. It's also some desperately needed good news amidst doom and gloom of the oil spill in the Gulf.

Working with The Nature Conservancy, Disneynature promised to donate a portion of the proceeds of each ticket sold to their new film "OCEANS" during its opening weekend in late April. The resulting popularity of the flick has led to the announcement that more than 35,000 acres of coral reef in the Bahamas will be protected. From the release:

"Through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, Disneynature will help establish new marine protected areas through the The Nature Conservancy’s Adopt a Coral Reef program. At 55 square miles, this protected area of coral reefs will be almost two-and-a-half times the size of Manhattan or the equivalent of more than 412 Disneylands, supporting the expansion of the Westside National Park of Andros."

Last year, Disneynature collaborated with The Nature Conservancy for the premiere of "Earth" — resulting in the planting of more than 2.7 million trees in Brazil's Atlantic forest.

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Comments: 3

Josh Mitteldorf May 06 2010 at 8:48 AM

Protecting a coral reef means preventing oil spills a thousand miles away. Protecting a coral reef means discontinuing the flow of pesticides and toxins into rivers, and thence into the ocean, Protecting a coral reef means not burning fossil fuels, which create CO2, which dissolves in the ocean as carbonic acid, which dissolves the calcium carbonate and degrades the reef.

How much of this is Disney able to offer? Perhaps they mean there won't be fishing boats right there at the reef.

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Mark Devlin May 13 2010 at 4:01 PM

You should research what they mean before criticizing. Go to the Nature Conservancy's website and read about the exact steps that will be and HAVE BEEN taken that will protect and rebuild the reefs. This has been done before effectively. In 20 years these reefs can return to their prior health. It's not only about green house gases.