In September 2019, Gemma was selected to attend Earthwatch expedition Protecting the Reef’s Coastal Frontier by her company, QBE, to gain an understanding of environmental issues and how companies can learn more in order to undertake more sustainable practices.
The transformative experience as told by Gemma herself:
Before attending the expedition, I couldn’t have effectively defined what a mangrove is. Now, I can tell you, a mangrove is a tree, shrub, palm or fern; generally bigger than half a metre, that grows above the average sea level within the intertidal zone.
Mangroves are important because they are extremely effective at storing blue carbon, meaning they take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and store it underground. They have the capacity to store 5 times more carbon than any other forest type, and can trap it 50 times faster. They are also very effective at protecting shorelines and coral reefs by buffering them from severe cyclonic storms and floods, and filtering sediment runoff.