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6 7 drones, planes, and satellites. The results, once collected, will be shared with key government and conservation organizations to inform policy and protections. “Last fall, the Caribbean experienced its most devastating hurricane season in decades as Cat- egory 5 storms Irma and Maria tore through the region,” remarked Luis Solórzano, Executive Direc- tor for The Nature Conservancy in the Caribbean. “These storms wreaked havoc not only on land, but also on underwater habitats.Nowmore than ever, as coral reefs face an increasing number of threats, it is critical to help Caribbean countries dependent on healthy reefs for their economic prosperity and their safety to protect their marine resources.” In addition to mapping coral reefs now from the sky, part of this mission includes analyzing pre-and post-storm satellite imagery on hurricane affect- ed islands, such as St. Croix. By comparing image mosaics from Planet, a company that collects daily satellite imagery at a global scale, scientists will be able to analyze visuals that were taken before and after the hurricanes to detect impacts to coral reefs from catastrophic hurricanes. In addition, they will be able to demonstrate the critical role that healthy reefs play in protecting vulnerable coastlines from storm events. “The Carnegie Airborne Observatory (CAO) is equipped with technology to collect hyperspec- tral images using specialized sensors that have OPENING LINES the capacity to map the chemical fingerprint and composition of habitats, permitting scien- tists to map not only individual species, but also detect stress levels,” commented Dr. Greg Asner, Founder and Director of the CAO. “The infor- mation coming out of these flights tells a story about not just coral reef composition, but also about their health, a critical piece of the puzzle in understanding how to best protect them.” Once the data from the aerial mapping mission are collected, scientists will process the imagery to create highly detailed coastal ecosystemmaps that will be compared to the satellite imagery provided by Planet.To validate and verify accuracy of the satellite and aerial mapping, field data is also being collected using drones, drop cameras, and SCUBA divers.This approach will create layers upon layers of information that spans from outer space to undersea to ensure the most precise, de- tailed data are gathered and the maps produced are the most accurate possible. Upon completion, these data and maps will be shared with governments, conservation partners, and regional stakeholders to inform resource management and investments in further protect- ing and restoring coral reefs.These maps will be used to better understand the economic value and benefits that coastal habitats provide to people such as storm protection, recreation, and tourism and fisheries. Ultimately, the plan is to use these maps to declare newmarine protected areas, design man- agement plans for existing areas, and influence post-hurricane restoration and protection activi- ties for coral reefs, including plans for coral nurs- eries, planting, and spawning.