South Pacific Management - Hotel Management Company

To'a Nui Experience - The coral nursery

History

In 2001, Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa collaborated with a marine biologist, Denis Schneider,  to install 30 artificial reefs within the lagoon of the hotel under the overwater bungalows.  The lagoon of the hotel enables distressed coral colonies to regenerate in perfect ecological conditions.
This project has been successfully completed in 2005 due to the tranquil conditions for the fish and coral, combined with the scientific research, environmental care and educational activities.

Few words about Denis Schneider and "Espace Bleu" company

Espace Bleu launched in 1999 is designed to work on preserving  the underwater environment by establishing partnerships with local hotel chains. The goal is to create coral nurseries to work on stressed animals as there is no public protected area existing in the lagoon of Bora Bora. As a marine biologist and Director of "Espace Bleu", Denis Schneider is the main pioneer of the Toa Nui project. As a guest skeeper at the Bora Bora junior high school, he noticed the degradation of certain types of coral and resolved to establish a rescue program that could also serve as a basis for training and for communication with a larger audience. The concept of the coral nursery then appeared as a solution both essential and innovative to save part of the doomed coral.

Environmental care

A world awareness
Industrialized countries exposed to a sustainable development policy.
Increasing role of the medias in the education of human society
Return to natural values.
Environment care becomes the priority for all.

Aspects of the ecological nursery

Protection and development of the coral population
Increase in the number of fish and corals under the overwater bungalows of the hotel
Prevention or reduction of erosion from the beach and the sea bed.
Preservation of a biodiversity zone.
Maintenance, protection and development of the natural heritage of French Polynesia
Scientific research lead by a marine biologist on coral transplantations.

Power of the nursery education

Educative excursion program linked to the French Polynesian lagoon discovery.
Awareness for the guests and local populations thanks to enjoyable activities.
Awareness and training for the staff of the hotel

Sponsorship of a coral colony
Laying a foundation for all to become an “eco-citizen”

Isabelle Adjani, now Ambassadress for Polynesian Coral

During her last vacation in the idyllic setting of le Taha'a Island Resort & Spa, renowned French actress, Isabelle Adjani, took a particular interest in the marine environment. Specialists in the sbuject showed her the important role played by corals in French Polynesia where the local population is intimately involved with the surrounding marine environment. Very much conscious of the importance of such a cause, Isabelle Adjani, who is already an Albassadress for Nicolas Hulot's "Défi pour la terre" (Challenge for the Earth) received a diploma as "Honorary Godmother" of Reef Check Polynesia. The famous actress has now become sponsor of a coral colony in the heart of To'A Nui and the colony will now her name.

Download the To'A Nui brochure to have further details about our action