SeaTrees x Beachly 2022 Recap!

Here at Beachly, we're all about the ocean - those aqua blues, salty waves, and the power that exists within it. We're big believers that the ocean gives so much to us and we're always doing our best to give back. Which is why we're sooo excited to recap with you all that we've accomplished this year with our partnership with SeaTrees!

By working with SeaTrees, we are restoring the ocean's forests and rebuilding a long-neglected Watershed in Hawaii, one box at a time. With each new member that joins the Good Vibe Tribe, we're making a huge impact on our world, the environment, and the oceans that we all know and love! 2022 was a huge year for SeaTrees, let's take a look at what's been done!

Who is SeaTrees?

SeaTrees is a global non-profit working to regenerate coastal ecosystems, increase biodiversity, and create jobs in sustainable communities. On Earth Day this year, SeaTrees announced their first major milestone - the 1 Million SeaTrees planted + protected project! This project includes 125,000 square feet of kelp restoration in California. To date, there have been 2,210,445 SeaTrees planted to help restore the ocean's ecosystems!

SeaTrees believes the ocean has superpowers and we can work with it to reverse climate change. In our partnership with SeaTrees, we're going to wipe out carbon footprints, restore kelp forests, and continue growing the ocean's forests one Beachly box at a time. 

Beachly x SeaTrees: The Projects

This year, our contributions to SeaTrees have been allocated to 2 projects.

The first is the restoration of a kelp forest in Palos Verdes! SeaTrees has restored over 200,000 square feet of Giant Kelp forest in conjunction with their partner, The Bay Foundation. We are proud to be one of a number of great brands supporting this project!

This project is a personal one for us at Beachly. Our Co-Founder, Kevin Tighe, used to surf in Palos Verdes when he lived in the area. "It hit close to home when the team at SeaTrees told me that 85% of Southern California's giant kelp forests have been devastated," said Kevin. "I wanted us to support a project focused on restoring these critical ocean ecosystems. The hard work put in by SeaTrees and The Bay Foundation has been astounding".

The second SeaTrees project which Beachly has supported this year is the restoration of the Ho'owaiwai Watershed on Maui. The watershed is located in the Maliko Gulch on Maui's north shore. If you're a stand up, prone or outrigger paddler, Maliko may sound familiar! This is also the launch point for the famed Maliko downwind run.

The islands of Hawaii are near and dear to the Beachly team. Co-Founder, Mark Healey was born and raised on Oahu, and we have a number of team members and advisors who live or have lived on the islands! We were honored when the SeaTrees team asked if we could support this special project. Work on the watershed recently began, and we can't wait to visit, roll up our sleeves and help out!

California's Kelp Forests

Kelp ecosystems in California are in a state of crisis. In Southern California more than 85% of the giant kelp forests have been devastated, and in Northern Calfornia almost 95% of the bull kelp forests have disappeared in the last 10 years. Caused by the proliferation of purple sea urchins, as their predators disappear from human impacts and climate change.

Kelp forests not only help keep the waves glassy, they create a natural habitat for over 700 essential ocean species! Clearing "urchin barrens" allows rapidly growing kelp to regrow and re-establish into a healthy kelp forest - creating habitat for marine life and sequestering carbon emissions. This is the ultimate goal, sending divers down to clear these barrens.

The latest science shows that globally, kelp forests can sequester more carbon than mangrove forests - restoring these sequoias of the sea is critical to solving climate change. 

Sustaining kelp forests helps to support a diverse array of aquatic life. Kelp forests also fight against ocean acidification and help to sequester up to 20 times more carbon per acre than land forests. The kelp forests we are restoring in our partnership with SeaTrees provide a natural habitat and nutrition for over 700 species of algae, invertebrates, and fish. And fun fact - kelp has a speedy growth rate and can grow up to two feet per day! How cool is that!? 

Ho'oawaiwai Watershed Project

If you've been a part of Beachly for a while, you most likely know that we transitioned our focuses this year to a new project. We have now allocated our donations to the Ho'oawaiwai Watershed Project where we will he helping restore and regenerate critical coastal watershed systems that have been deeply neglected over the years and are now impacting the island's ecosystems!

The Maliko Gulch and Launiupoko are the tao districts that are receiving the greatest help through the Watershed Project. The Maliko Gulch has served as a dumping ground for over 100 years whereas Launiupoko's soil has been left fallow and can no longer support the native plant species in its condition. 

In order to support these areas, SeaTrees is focusing specifically on removing trash and invasive species (plant and animal), and growing native and voyaging plant species (a mix of trees, shrubs, and grasses) in critical areas within the watershed. This will in turn reduce soil erosion and sedimentation into the streams, resulting in direct improvements and protection of the reef systems that are located at the end of the watershed.

Thanks again to all of our members who support Beachly, and in turn, help support these wonderful projects. Thank you to our partners, SeaTrees, for all the hard work you put in to help keep our oceans clean and pristine. Remember, every Beachly purchase gives back to SeaTrees and for Giving Tuesday 2022, any purchase made on the Beachly website will double our donation to this amazing cause!