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Unique Vabbinfaru
Lotus Reef Restoration
Project Launched Successfully
Banyan Tree
Maldives Vabbinfaru
November, 2001
Under the supervision of architect
Prof. Wolf Hilbertz, coral scientist Dr. Tom Goreau, and Abdul Azeez Abdul
Hakeem, Marine Envionmental Consultant to Banyan Tree Maldives, and with the
help of a large number of enthusiastic staff and even the assistance of some of
the guests, the two meters high and 12 meters in diameter Vabbinfaru Lotus, a
unique reef restoration project, has been successfully launched in November
2001.
The structure, shaped in
the form of a giant Lotus flower, was designed and built by the specialists
right on site at the northern beach of the island under the curious eyes of
holidaymakers as well as all the staff members of the Banyan Tree Maldives.
During the duration of the construction work, which lasted one week, the
scientists were happy to find so much interest among guests and employees, who
were all eager to learn more about this exciting coral reef restoration project
and its background.
Coral reefs are the mosr
complex ecosystems in the sea and are often described as the rainforests of the
ocean. All around the world and also throughout the Maldives, these
“rainforests“ have been severely affected by rising global temperatures
responsible for the bleaching and death of corals. In 1998 record high water
temperatures killed most of the corals throughout the Indian Ocean, and
Maldivian reefs, the best in the region, didn’t escape the effects. A method
invented by Prof. Hilbertz and Dr. Goreau called Mineral Accretion now enables
them to restore marine habitats by using completely safe low voltage electrical
currents to grow solid limestone structures in the sea and making additional
energy available for the corals, thus accelerating coral growth, reproduction,
increasing their ability to resist environmental stresses, making the corals
visibly brighter colored and in general healthier.
The Vabbinfaru Lotus is
not only a visually appealing object but combines aesthetics with purpose. It is
aimed at acting as a coral nursery, a Coral Ark that maintains species
diversity. With its open flower shape, the Vabbinfaru Lotus‘ surface area is
maximized, inviting the sun to promote development and growth of corals. Half a
ton of welded construction reinforcing bar was used to build the frame, which
was then carried by around 40 volunteers through the shallow lagoon and
deposited on the slope of Vabbinfaru’s outer reef. The Lotus is now located in a
depth between 3 and 10 meters.
As soon as the structure
was placed in its final position, naturally broken pieces of live coral that had
been damaged by waves and corals that were growing on top of loose rocks and
rubble were rescued by the team of specialists and placed on the Lotus. These
coral fragments were either attached to the frame by wedging them into crevices
or using plastic cable ties to secure them firmly so they will not move with the
waves. Around 900 meters of cable have been connected to the Vabbinfaru Lotus.
The electricity for the Lotus, which uses around 600 watts of power, only a
little more than each of the fish-attracting lights on the jetty, comes from
transformers converting high voltage alternating current into low voltage direct
current.
Now divers and snorkelers
can watch this incredible and magical process as within a few days to weeks
those fixed fragments are solidly cemented in place as white limestone grows
around them. Coral larvae, which are tiny free swimming baby corals, will settle
on this clean limestone rock produced by Mineral Accretion. All other forms of
coral reef life will quickly follow, transforming this Mineral Accretion
structure into a real coral reef, dominated by corals with a high density and
with a complete and diversified selection of normal reef creatures.
The same method was
previously used very successfully by this team on the neighboring island of
Angsana Ihuru, which is also under Banyan Tree’s umbrella, and well known for
its reputation as an environmentally conscious and “green“ island, where coral
survival was dramatically enhanced by applying Mineral Accretion technology. The
Ihuru Barnacle project, a volcano shaped artificial reef structure, about 4
meters tall and 6 meters across, located in 6 meters depth, was started exactly
five years earlier in November 1996, and has become a colorful and fertile mini
ecosystem of its own. Also on Angsana Ihuru, the “Necklace“, a submerged
breakwater structure in the lagoon, about 40 meters long, 4 meters wide, and 1.5
meters high, is protecting the nearby beach through Mineral Accretion. The
growing limestone on the structure, which has already achieved a thickness of up
to 20 cm in places, helps break the force of the waves and reduce erosion on the
beach. A third feature on Ihuru are three identical truncated pyramids in deeper
water which serve as coral nurseries and homes for fish and other organisms. In
1998, when most corals in the natural reef died of heat shock, 60-80% of the
corals growing on the structures survived.
Now with the Vabbinfaru
Lotus as one more of Banyan Tree’s reef restoration projects in place, another
vital step has been taken to keep the rainforests of the sea, those wonders of
the underwater world with all their delicate beauty and compelling fascination,
alive.
THE VABBINFARU LOTUS REEF RESTORATION
PROJECT
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Vabbinfaru Lotus, and how
can I find it?
The Vabbinfaru Lotus is a
flower-shaped coral reef structure built from half a ton of welded construction
steel rods located on the outer reef slope 225 meters in front of the Sunset
Jetty. The structure is about 12 meters (40 feet) across. To find it follow the
cables from the jetty, or if tide is low swim to the yellow buoy marking the
passage across the reef, and swim to the left along the outer reef about 50
meters. The shallowest portions of the Lotus are about 3 meters deep, and the
deepest around 10 meters. The Lotus was built between November 4-13 2001, and
was put under power on November 15 2001. The structure began to turn white the
next day, as limestone crystals began to grow on top of the steel. Coral
fragments were immediately transplanted onto the Lotus, and will grow
exceptionally rapidly due to the Mineral Accretion process.
What is Mineral Accretion?
Mineral Accretion, or
Biorock™, is a new construction method that uses low voltage direct current
electricity to grow solid limestone rock structures in the sea and accelerate
the growth of corals. Originally invented by architect Wolf Hilbertz for
construction purposes, it has been applied to coral reef restoration by Hilbertz
and coral scientist Tom Goreau since 1988. They hold the patent on the process,
and the trademark Biorock™ is owned by Biorock Inc., a company they founded
which holds exclusive world wide commercial rights to the patent. The Mineral
Accretion process causes minerals that are naturally dissolved in seawater to
grow on top of the structures. Without electricity, no growth would occur, and
the steel would quickly rust away and collapse. Steel is completely protected
from corrosion and oxidation by the electricity, and this process has been used
to permanently protect the submerged portions of the steel beams on the Ihuru
Jetty, eliminating the replacement costs that would eventually be needed if they
were still rusting. Mineral Accretion is the only technology known for growing
structures in the sea that get larger and stronger with age, unlike any other
building material. In addition these structures have the unique property of
self-repair: any physical damage to the Mineral Accretion is filled in first by
the growing rock. Mineral Accretion structures can be built in any size or
shape. Typical Mineral Accretion growth rates are from one to several
centimeters of rock per year, depending on the surface area of the structure and
the amount of current flowing through it. Structures can be grown much more
rapidly, but this produces weaker material. Mineral Accretion is the only method
known that can speed up coral growth rates in the sea. For the development of
this remarkable method of reef restoration, Hilbertz and Goreau were given the
Sperry Award, the highest accolade of the Society for Ecological Restoration.
Why was this
project started?
Corals at Vabbinfaru reef, like those
throughout the Maldives and all around the world, have been severely affected by
global warming. High temperatures cause corals to turn white (or “bleach“), and
if it remains too hot for too long, the corals die of heat shock. In 1998,
record high temperatures killed most of the corals across the entire Indian
Ocean. Maldivian reefs, the best in the region, were severely affected, with
only a few of the hardiest corals surviving. On the neighboring island of
Angsana Ihuru, coral survival was dramatically increased using a remarkable new
method to increase coral growth rates and their ability to resist environmental
stresses. This method, called Mineral Accretion or Biorock™ technology, uses
completely safe low voltage direct currents to grow solid limestone structures
in the sea and accelerate coral growth, provide homes for reef fishes, and
protect the shoreline. The Ihuru projects, which have been going on since late
1996, have been extremely successful: they now have the highest living coral
cover, coral diversity, and density of normal reef fish to be seen in the area,
providing a unique experience for snorkelers and divers. The Vabbinfaru Lotus
project builds on these dramatic results. A structure shaped in the form of a
giant Lotus flower has been built. Within days the Lotus began to turn white as
limestone crystals grew on the steel framework. Corals on it will grow
exceptionally rapidly, filling the spaces in between. Fish and all forms of
marine life will be attracted to this structure like an oasis in the desert.
Visitors to Vabbinfaru will have the unique opportunity to watch the
evolutionary transformation of a bare steel structure into a vibrant coral reef
nursery, pulsing with colorful life, and to compare it with the older projects
on the adjacent island.
Who built it?
The Vabbinfaru Lotus was
designed and constructed by the same team that built the coral nurseries at
Angsana Ihuru: Prof. Wolf Hilbertz (architect), Dr. Tom Goreau (coral
scientist), and A. Azeez A. Hakeem (Marine Environmental Consultant to Banyan
Tree), working with a skilled team of Maldivian welders and the the resort‘s
electricians. Hilbertz and Goreau, the inventors of the method, are the founders
of Biorock Inc., a company formed to apply this technology towards restoring
marine habitats. The projects are being maintained by the Banyan Tree Marine
Environmental Team (Azeez, Anwar, and Anees).
Is it safe to touch the Lotus?
It is completely safe to
touch the Lotus because it is receiving only low voltage direct current, rather
than the dangerous high voltage alternating current that comes out of electrical
outlets. If a swimmer were to short out the current through their body by
holding on to both terminals they would feel only a mild tingle, if they could
feel it at all. However divers are asked not to touch the Lotus, not for their
own safety but for that of the corals, which could be injured if they are
accidentally touched, kicked by fins, or if divers with poor buoyancy control
drift into it. So please admire the Lotus from a safe distance of at least
one meter away.
Why do corals grow faster on Mineral
Accretion?
Corals grow at
accelerated rates on Mineral Accretion because the electricity creates chemical
conditions (high pH) at the surface of the growing limestone crystals and at the
surface of the coral’s limestone skeleton, greatly speeding up their growth.
Corals normally have to spend a large part of their energy to create these
condtions internally in order to grow their skeleton, but Mineral Accretion
provides the right conditions for free, leaving the coral with much more energy
for tissue growth, reproduction, and resisting environmental stresses. The rate
at which the coral grows depends on the amount of current, the size of the
structure, and the species of coral. Typical conditions used increase their
growth rate about 3-5 times faster than normal.
Does Mineral Accretion improve coral
health?
Corals benefitting from
Mineral Accretion are visibly more brightly colored and extend their tentacles
to feed more often. Because they have more energy for growth and reproduction
they are much healthier than normal corals, and are able to survive
environmental stresses that would otherwise kill them, whether excessive
temperatures, sedimentation, or pollution. For example during 1998, when more
than 95% of the corals in the natural reefs died, only 20-40% of the corals on
the five Mineral Accretion structures at Ihuru died. The difference between 1-5%
survival on the reef versus 60-80% survival on Mineral Accretion coral nurseries
was dramatic, and has made them Coral Arks of high live coral abundance and
diversity, attracting marine organisms of all kinds, many of which have
virtually vanished from the natural reefs.
Where do the corals on the Lotus come
from?
All corals on the Lotus
come from Vabbinfaru reef, and no other reefs had corals removed from them to
make Vabbinfaru look better. All the corals placed on the Lotus are naturally
broken fragments of live coral that have been damaged by waves, or corals that
are growing on top of loose rocks and rubble. These pieces would almost
certainly be doomed to die as the rocks and fragments roll over in heavy waves
and are buried in sand. Most of the corals transplanted had previously been
severely damaged in part by rolling when they were rescued and placed on the
Lotus. Many of these fragments had fallen over the edge of the reef and were
found on the steep sand slopes around the island, where they were gradually
sliding down into deep water, where they would eventually die from lack of light
if not killed by physical abrasion.
How are the corals attached?
Coral fragments are
attached to the structure by wedging them into crevices and holes built into the
structure, or by attaching them using plastic cable ties or steel binding wire.
They are firmly attached so that they do not move with the waves, which would
damage their thin and fragile living tissue by rubbing against Mineral
Accretion.
What happens after they are attached?
Attached corals are
solidly cemented in place within days to weeks as the Mineral Accretion grows
around them, and as the coral skeleton and tissue overgrows Mineral Accretion.
Corals then proceed to grow at accelerated rates as they benefit from the
electrical currents in the underlying steel framework.
Will corals settle naturally on the
structure?
Coral larvae, which are
millimeter-sized freely-swimming baby corals, will only settle and grow on clean
limestone rock. When they find a suitable surface, they settle, attach
themselves, and start to grow their skeleton on top of it. Mineral Accretion is
exactly what they are searching for. As a result there are very high rates of
coral settlement on the structures. However if the Mineral Accretion is growing
too rapidly, these tiny corals may be overgrown by Mineral Accretion before they
are large enough to outgrow it. Therefore to increase rates of coral settlement
lower currents are used than to increase the growth of transplanted fragments.
Structures can be run first under very low power to maximize settlement of new
corals, and then turned up to maximize their growth. However this was not done
with the Lotus, in order to get rapid growth of Mineral Accretion to increase
the strength of the structure and to allow it to cement itself to the underlying
rock.
Are fish and other marine creatures
attracted to it.
Even though only corals
are transplanted onto Mineral Accretion structures, all other forms of coral
reef life are quickly attracted to it like an oasis in the desert, and migrate
to it by swimming, crawling on the bottom, or by floating organisms settling on
it and attaching themselves. Every form of reef life has been observed to be
attracted to the structures, and none to be repelled. However it is the
organisms with limestone skeletons, such as corals, clams, oysters, barnacles,
tube worms, and sand-producing algae that are especially promoted, allowing them
to outgrow the weedy algae that would overgrow and kill corals in polluted
waters. The result is that Mineral Accretion structures quickly become real
coral reefs, dominated by corals, with a complete selection of normal reef
creatures. This is completely different than “artificial reefs“ made from exotic
materials like sunken ships, planes, cars, concrete, rubber tires, and trash.
Although fish will hide behind any structure that provides shelter, and although
certain sponges and soft organisms will settle on exotic materials, these never
turn into habitats that would be called a coral reef by a biologist, no matter
how impressive the fish may seem. Mineral Accretion not only increases growth of
hard corals, they are quickly occupied by dense populations of reef fish,
including schooling fishes that shelter in them by day and other species at
night, as well as permanent residents that never leave. Mineral Accretion
structures are also favored by cleaning shrimps and fish, establishing fish
cleaning stations to which fish of all kinds come to be cleaned, allowing them
to watched closely while they are unusually calm. This makes them excellent
places to watch fish behavior. In addition very large numbers of baby fishes are
attracted to the structures when they settle on the reef from their early open
water larval phases, building up local fish populations.
How much electricity does the project
use?
The lotus uses around 600
watts of power, only a bit more than each of the fish-attracting lights on the
Jetty.
Where does the electricity come from?
Electricity for the Lotus
comes from chargers in the Sunset Jetty. These transform high voltage
alternating current into low voltage direct current, which is fed to the Lotus
via cables. The structure acts as a cathode, and a much smaller special inert
material is used as the anode to complete the electrical circuit. The source of
the electricity comes from the island’s generator, which unfortunately comes
from burning petroleum, putting carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and
contributing to the global warming that is killing the world’s coral reefs.
Other projects, such as the Ihuru Barnacle, are powered solely by solar panels,
but this could not be done easily at Vabbinfaru because of the great distance
from shore, which would have either required a large number of panels on land,
or a specially built rack on top of the reef flat. Sadly, solar panels are still
very expensive because production is still very low and unit costs are high,
making them too costly for many applications until mass production brings the
prices down. Power can also be supplied by other non-polluting sources such as
windmills or tidal current generators.
How is the project maintained?
The structure is
periodically checked to ensure that cables and connections are intact. If these
are broken, growth of Mineral Accretion will stop, growth rates of corals will
decrease to normal values, they will lose their special ability to resist
environmental stresses, and the structure will no longer be seen to give off a
stream of fine bubbles. If problems are found with a cable, it is brough out and
repaired or replaced if needed. Organisms that kill corals, such as the coral
eating Crown of Thorns starfish and certain coral-eating snails are removed.
Undesirable weedy organisms that could overgrow corals, such as certain sponges
and algae, are periodically removed to allow the good organisms to flourish,
just as a gardener pulls up weeds that would overgrow the flowers.
What materials are used?
The structure is built
from ordinary construction steel, electrical cables, and epoxy or silicone
sealants to protect the connections. The other electrode, through which the
current flows to the Lotus, is a special titanium mesh that does not corrode.
How long will the project run?
The longer the project
runs, the more corals will grow and help to repopulate surrounding reefs, and
the more corals will be protected from future hot episodes. The project can have
its power turned off at any time, but then the special advantages of growing
strength, self-repair, accelerated coral growth and survival will be lost.
However once the structure is sufficiently strong, the power can be reduced to
maintenance levels. It should be run until there is no longer any need to
maintain and restore natural coral reefs.
Could a shipwreck be accreted?
Yes, but because of the
large amount of steel, a larger amount of electricity would be needed. A
shipwreck powered by Mineral Accretion would not suffer any of the rusting and
corrosion that will eventually cause it to break up and collapse, making the
structure permanent. In addition a much more natural coral reef ecosystem would
develop. The main problem is that most shipwrecks are so far from shore that
very long cables and high power would be needed, unless electricity can be
generated at the site from floating solar panels or tidal current turbines.
These developments still lie in the future.
Where else in the world are such
projects being conducted?
Mineral Accretion Coral
Arks are currently being operated in the Maldives, Thailand, Indonesia, Papua
New Guinea, Mexico, and Panama. The projects at Angsana Ihuru are the longest
continually acting projects in the world, starting in 1996. There are many
requests for such projects from marine conservation groups around the world, but
unfortunately there is virtually no funding available for such projects by
governments, international funding agencies, or private foundations. As a result
most of these projects are small pilot projects to demonstrate the process,
since the results are so spectacular and unexpected that it is impossible to
believe it true without seeing them directly.
Why is this project important for the
Maldives?
Maldivian coral reefs
were so catastrophically damaged by high temperatures in 1998 that the need to
restore coral reefs is a critical emergency in order to maintain biodiversity
and protect the coastlines from erosion. Natural regeneration of these reefs is
very slow, and will take several decades under ideal conditions. However global
warming makes repeated mortality from excessive temperatures certain to happen
again and again in the future. Maintaining reef ecosystems in the long run may
be possible only with Mineral Accretion. This is a crucial matter for the
Maldives, the lowest lying country in the world. Until 1998 Maldivian coral
reefs were actively growing up to sea level, allowing the sand islands to form
on top of them and protecting them from wave erosion. Since 1998 the dead corals
have begun to fall apart as the dead skeletons are riddled with holes by boring
organisms of many kinds, resulting in their eventual collapse in storm waves. As
the result, the rates of erosion of Maldivian islands have increased, requiring
costly measures to build sea walls out of concrete, steel, coral rubble, or sand
bags. These materials soon rust, corrode, collapse, and need to be rebuilt. In
contrast only breakwaters and reefs made of Mineral Accretion can provide
permanent and cost-effective protection capable of keeping pace with rising
global sea levels (now 2-3 millimeters per year and expected to increase as
polar ice cap melting acclerates) and maintaining biodiversity and beautiful
reefs for tourism. This can be done at a fraction of the cost of concrete,
steel, or rock seawalls that typically cost around US$15 million per kilometer.
The entire Vabbinfaru Lotus cost less than one meter of a typical seawall!
How can I support projects to
restore and maintain coral reefs for future generations?
People who have not personally seen the results of these projects simpply do not
believe that it is possible to speed up coral growth, increase resistance to
stress, and restore damaged reefs. As one of the few people who have had a
chance to see it, your simply telling others what you have seen will play a
vital role in spreading this crucial information and building support for
serious coral reef restoration programs worldwide. Present efforts to restore
coral reefs are an infinitesimal fraction of the rate of global coral reef
destruction, and to maintain the fisheries, tourism, biodiversity, beach sand
supplies, and to protect the coastlines from erosion they need to be vastly
expanded in over 100 countries. Biorock Inc., the owner of Hilbertz and Goreau’s
patent for Mineral Accretion, is working to develop commercial projects for reef
restoration, ecotourism, and coastal protection worldwide, but very few people
are yet aware of the potential. However much of the need for reef restoration
lies with low lying islands such as the Maldives, community groups in developing
nations, and fishermen who have seen their reefs and fisheries vanish. Reef
restoration projects with non-profit groups, such as marine parks, fishermen’s
cooperatives, conservation groups, and Panamanian Indian villages are underway
by the Global Coral Reef Alliance (GCRA), the pioneering non-profit organization
for the protection and sustainable management of coral reefs worldwide. GCRA has
exclusive worldwide rights to the patent for cooperative restoration projects
with non-profit groups. GCRA, a tax-exmpt
charitable organization incorporated in the USA, has been asked to help groups
around the world with their reef restoration needs, but is unable to respond to
most of them due only to lack of funds. Donations to GCRA will greatly help
efforts to start Biorock Coral Arks wherever they are needed to preserve coral
reef species and the benefits they provide for tourism, fisheries, and shore
protection. Time is now very short, as the current rate of global warming will
raise temperatures above 1998 levels in only a few years, perhaps next year. To
find out how your donation can help these emergency rescue efforts to save our
reefs, please contact Dr. Tom Goreau, President, Global Coral Reef Alliance, 37
Pleasant Street, Cambridge
MA 02139, USA or at
goreau@bestweb.net
For more information on the
Vabbinfaru Lotus please contact Azeez or Anwar at the Resort Host desk. For more
information on Mineral Accretion, other projects, and worldwide efforts to save
coral reefs, please contact Wolf Hilberta at
saya@loxinfo.co.th, Tom Goreau at
goreau@bestweb.net, or Azeez Hakeem at
a.azeez@banyantree.com.
VABBINFARU LOTUS
PRELIMINARY CORAL TRANSPLANTATION
REPORT
Wolf Hilbertz, Tom Goreau, & Azeez
Hakeem
November 20 2001
The Vabbinfaru Lotus
coral nursery was placed under power on November 15, 2001. It is shaped like a
large bowl, with 16 major petals, 12 meters in diameter, made from about half a
ton of welded steel construction bars, and located on the western outer reef
slope. The shallowest part is about 3 meters deep and the deepest about 10
meters. About 600 watts of power are provided from transformers on the jetty via
four cables, each 225 meters long.
Coral transplantation
began as soon as the Lotus was put in place. All corals transplanted onto it are
naturally broken coral fragments found on the Vabbinfaru reef flat and outer
reef slope. As the transplants are largely pieces of coral that have been
naturally broken by waves, or corals that have settled on loose rocks made up of
dead corals, and since these were almost entirely rescued from the outer reef
slope, where they had fallen off the reef and were gradually rolling into deep
water, most of these fragments had already suffered severe damage from rolling
or burial in sand. In some cases these rocks have small colonies of several
different species of corals attached, sometimes up to half a dozen. Due to lack
of time, only roughly a hundred corals have been placed on it so far. Coral
transplantation will continue for several months, led by Azeez, Anees, and
Anwar. As coral transplantation will be ongoing for some time, it is too soon to
characterize the community of corals that will be established, but the plan is
to include all local coral species that can be found in the immediate vicinity.
Coral identification of
species in most cases requires microscopic examination of the dead skeleton. As
we have taken no samples for identification we identify the different corals by
visual inspection only to genus. Most genera only have one or a handful of
species, but some genera have many different species, up to hundreds in the case
of Acropora. As our purpose is only to grow as many types of corals as fast as
possible, detailed identification to species level will have to wait until the
project matures. On the next page we give a list of the genera that have so far
been transplanted. These include 33 of the roughly 50 genera known from the
Maldives according to Veron, 2000, Corals of the World. The actual total may be
higher because many of the pieces transplanted have small colonies or encrusting
colonies hidden in cracks that were not noted or which could not be identified.
The listing notes whether one, several, or many different species of each genus
have been transplanted. Since almost all Acropora colonies found are young
corals that have not yet assumed their adult forms, it is virtually impossible
to identify them yet.
GENERA OF CORALS TRANSPLANTED ONTO
VABBINFARU LOTUS
Montipora (several species)
Acropora(many species)
Astreopora(several)
Pocillopora(several)
Physogyra
Galaxea
Psammocora
Coscinarea
Pavona
Coeloseris
Gardinoseris
Fungia(several species)
Halomitra
Pectinia
Hydnophora(several species)
Merulina
Turbinaria
Lobophyllia
Symphyllia
Favia(several species)
Favites(several species)
Goniastrea(several species)
Platygyra
Oulophyllia
Leptoria
Montastrea
Diploastrea
Echinopora
Porites(many species)
Goniopora(several species)
Distichopora
Heliopora
Tubastrea
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