About Biosphere FoundationBiosphere Foundation’s mission is to inspire intelligent use of the earth’s natural resources and empower people of all ages to become leaders in biosphere stewardship. The Foundation’s work includes (1) implementing community-led programs to restore coral reef and forest ecosystems; (2) creating education and training programs that inspire people from around the world to care for the biosphere and get involved to make a difference; and (3) providing an unbiased, “trusted source” of data about the biosphere for everyone to use.
Biosphere Foundation builds on the work of Gaie Alling, Mark Van Thillo and Sierra Silverstone - three of the original crew of eight on the 1991-1993 Biosphere 2 experiment who served in a first-of-its-kind mission to thrive together for two years inside a totally sealed environment, sustaining a breathable atmosphere, water and food systems. Today, Biosphere Foundation operates The Biosphere Center - a sustainable demonstration center in northwest Bali - where people from around the world can come together to collaborate and learn about nature stewardship; and Yacht Mir - a 113’ ship which brings community leaders to remote island cultures in The Coral Triangle to pass on and exchange their skills and knowledge about coral reef and forest restoration. Biosphere Foundation was founded in 1991 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and has led education and research projects in 24 countries and at 49 coral reef locations worldwide. |
Biosphere Foundation is unique.Our founders and core team include three of the original ‘Biospherians’ — the eight scientists and technicians who, in 1991, participated in a first-of-its-kind mission to thrive together for two years in a totally sealed environment. Tasked with
stewarding a complex living system of seven biomes to sustain a breathable atmosphere, generate clean water, grow food and manage rising CO2, the Biospherians were pioneers on a mission that created regenerative eco-logical systems for Earth and space applications. Their work generated critical insights into the relationships between all life and that of the biosphere — our global life support system. The legacy of their work teaches us about humanity’s vital steward-ship role and informs the core mission of the Biosphere Foundation today. |
Our projects and programs are located in the Coral Triangleone of the planet’s richest sites for marine and terrestrial biodiversity. We live and work among the communities who are the
trustees of the plants, animals and knowledge systems of this vital ‘living laboratory’. |
We provide an unbiased, trusted source of data for everyone who seeks to learn about the biosphere.We hold twenty years’ research data on coral reefs in The Coral Triangle and at 49 coral sites worldwide. Our work currently focuses on a 12-year monitoring program in northwest Bali, to understand coral reef change and identify
what works to help resilience against rising sea temperatures. |
We provide an unbiased, trusted source of data for everyone who seeks to learn about the biosphere.We hold twenty years’ research data on coral reefs in The Coral Triangle and at 49 coral sites worldwide. Our work currently focuses on a 12-year monitoring program in northwest Bali, to understand coral reef change and identify
what works to help resilience against rising sea temperatures. |
Our local staff are full collaborators and partners in the work of the Foundation.We implement community-led conservation programs on land and at sea, working together to restore coral
reef, mangrove and forest ecosystems. At sea, our ship Mir reaches remote islands throughout the Coral Triangle where we work directly with local leaders to deliver education programs and training for people of all ages, to inspire others to care for the biosphere. We have led coral reef and cultural learning expeditions around the world since 1991, for hundreds of apprentices from 47 countries. Launched in 2011, to date our formal education programs have trained 500 students from eighteen countries. |
Our marine research headquartersOur marine research headquarters are aboard Mir, a 113’ sailing yacht built in Holland in 1910. Purchased in Malta in
2009, Mir was restored and sailed in 2010 by her present crew, to the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean and south-east Asia. In 2019 we completed work on our fully sustainable Biosphere Center, designed as a comprehensive learning and training venue situated at the margins of a national park in northwest Bali. Together with our flagship research vessel Mir, the Center provides an integrated approach for learning, research and collaboration. While Mir brings our community leaders to remote island places, the Center is designed to bring leaders together on land for information exchange, project design and training across the full spectrum of skills needed for stewardship of Earth’s ecosystems. |
