Human survival is inseparable from pure water, land and air. Glaciers conserve clean freshwater resources, and water nourishes land with rich nutrients. Water then follows rivers and merges into oceans to let the ocean breathe. Oceans exhale oxygen, and absorb the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide to let the glacier cool, glaciers maintain a balance of accumulation and ablation, stabilize the planet’s temperatures, enable sustainable water resources, and fosters biodiversity and food crops in urban wildlife corridors. This recurring force of nature ultimately allows the health, peace and prosperity of humans and nature to develop sustainably.

In view of this, the United Nations designated June 8 every year as “World Oceans Day” in the hope of awakening the public to jointly protect the oceans. The ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth, and supports the life of humans and every living thing on the Earth. However, nearly 90% of the large fish in the ocean have disappeared, and nearly 50% of the coral reefs have been destroyed. Humans extract far more from the ocean than they actually need, and more than the forces of nature can repair themselves.

In order to avoid toxic substances in the air, Willy Bee took a deep breath and immediately dived into the South China Sea at 23.5 degrees north latitude – the last pure ocean on Earth.

Then a pink-white halo slowly swam towards Willy Bee. “I am the elf and goodwill ambassador that connects the land (green corridor) and the ocean. In 2020, glaciers, rivers, forests, land and oceans were originally connected and integrated. Due to humans’ harsh demands, nature could no longer cure itself. As a result, the climate began to warm, extreme weather occurred frequently, all glaciers had melted, and fresh water resources were almost impossible to find; ocean phytoplankton disappeared, and the Earth was filled with greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, makes it impossible for living things to breathe clean air; forests have also disappeared from the land, the land is so polluted that food can no longer be grown, and living things are almost extinct.” Chinese white dolphin said.

“I know that bees are messengers connecting to heaven. Can you pray to heaven and then take my two friends back to the Earth 30 years ago to find the last piece of pure land on Earth together? You’ll take the pure land there as a starting point, educate humans the belief of living harmoniously with nature. Besides, you’ll promote the integration of humans, society, economy and nature, so as to achieve sustainable development for the future of humans and nature.” said the Chinese White Dolphin.

The story begins with the big whales dive underwater to find food and return to the water surface to breathe. Whales bring minerals up to the ocean surface through their vertical movement, called the “Whale Pump”. From time to time, the big whales migrate their feeding and breeding grounds across oceans, called the “Whale Conveyor Belt”. For every journey, they always bring with their good friends – the tiny algae, or more precisely, the microalgae (Phytoplankton). It turns out that whales’ waste products contain substances — especially iron and nitrogen, the nutrients which phytoplankton need for growing. The is how the tiny algae work with big whales and produce oxygen to the atmosphere.

Biological diversity resources are the pillars upon which we build civilizations. Fish provide 20% of animal protein to about 3 billion people; Over 80% of the human diet is provided by plants; As many as 80% of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant‐based medicines for basic healthcare. The United Nations established the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (also known as the Biodiversity Plan) with the purpose of promoting the belief of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. It is hoped that different countries, organizations, and sectors can support the implementation of diversity in their own ways.

Safeguard the last piece of pure land on Earth, let the glacier cool, let the ocean breathe, run through the pulse to wildlife corridor, draw a “Green-blueprint”, build a cradle of ecosystem, nurture biodiversity, make human health and prosperity sustainable. Will Legend protects glaciers and water resources, food and biodiversity, marine ecology and clean air through the Glacier, Land and Ocean Programmes respectively.

Regarding biodiversity, it is easier for the public to understand that there are many types of plants and animals, and a large number of microorganisms are included. But it turns out that real biodiversity also includes ecosystems such as glaciers, rivers, forests, lakes, deserts, grasslands and oceans. To put it simply, all species on the Earth are interconnected. Each ecosystem has different connections, interactions and influences, and in the end, a beautiful Earth can be achieved.

The ocean produces oxygen through the phytoplankton (microalgae). These single-celled photosynthetic marine algae live near the surface. Microalgae are generally very good at turning carbon dioxide, nutrients and water into proteins, fats and carbohydrates through photosynthesis. They provide food for a wide range of sea creatures in a balanced ecosystem. Just like plants, they consume carbon dioxide, make carbohydrates using light energy, produce at least 50% of the planet’s oxygen.

Besides, these microscopic creatures absorb about 37 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), an estimated 40 percent of all CO2 produced. This is equivalent to the amount of CO2 absorbed by 1.70 trillion trees — four Amazon forests’ worth. Whales accumulate carbon in their bodies during their long lives, each great whale sequesters 33 tons of CO2 on average. When they die, they sink to the bottom of the ocean, taking that carbon out of the atmosphere for centuries. A tree, meanwhile, absorbs only up to 48 pounds of CO2 approximately a year*. Therefore, phytoplankton and whales are the excellent examples of carbon sequestration.

Will Legend educates public, and encourages kids to create their unique “Ocean Oxygen Tank” by planting phytoplankton (microalgae). By growing phytoplankton to learn how these tiny creatures can sequester carbon (carbon sequestration, carbon absorption or carbon fixation), and form the bases of aquatic food webs (primary marine food web) for zooplankton and krill. These zooplankton and krill will become the food sources of other marine creatures including whales. Phytoplankton builds a balanced ecosystem, saving marine creatures and whales. And of course, most importantly, it let the ocean breathe (absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen to the atmosphere).

Starting from the “seeds” of phytoplankton, these microalgae will be returned to the ocean. Ultimately microalgae will be transforming into “Ocean Oxygen Tank”. This is the “Green-blueprint” that Will Legend extends from glaciers, lands to oceans, so as to fulfill harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, achieve peace, health and prosperity, create a more beautiful Earth for our next generations.

*Source: IMF – Nature’s Solution to Climate Change