Conservation International: Valen’s Reef – Conservation comes to life in virtual reality

Conservation International: Plunge into one of the greatest spectacles of biodiversity in the world – Valen’s Reef

The world’s oceans are under severe threat, but we know one method — community-based conservation — can make a measurable difference. Until now, the best way to inspire policymakers, business leaders and everyday citizens to engage and invest in our work was to take them on a site visit to experience these worlds for themselves. Because that’s costly and complex, our reach had been limited to the very few who can afford to make such a remarkable journey.

To tell the story of the importance of community-based conservation, Conservation International transports viewers to one of the most biodiverse marine sites in the world. It takes four flights from the east coast of the United States, one boat ride and over 40 hours to travel to the Bird’s Head Seascape. “Valen’s Reef” takes viewers there and back in less than 7 minutes.

The Bird’s Head Seascape in eastern Indonesia is an area the size of Great Britain that holds more fish species than Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and more species of coral than the entire Caribbean Ocean.

Dive in virtual reality with Ronald Mambrasar, an indigenous fisherman-turned-coral-scientist, and his son, Valen, through crystal-clear waters teeming with fish. It’s hard to believe that a little over a decade ago these treasures were almost lost — only to be rescued by one of the world’s most ambitious community-based conservation programs.

Conservation International is grateful to work in close partnership with the people of West Papua, the government of Indonesia, The Nature Conservancy, WWF and more than thirty other partners. Special thanks to The Walton Family Foundation for its long-standing support of the Bird’s Head Seascape Initiative. This film was made possible with support from The Tiffany & Co Foundation, Here Be Dragons production, with distribution support provided by glassybaby and VICE.