A S$1.4 million gift from Dalio Philanthropies will support the second phase of the Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey, a five-year project to map Southeast Asia's marine ecosystems.

Rich in marine biodiversity, yet largely undocumented, Singapore's waters have now become the focus of a renewed scientific effort. A S$1.4 million gift from Dalio Philanthropies will support the second phase of the Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey (CMBS II), a five-year project to map Southeast Asia's marine ecosystems led by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) and the Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI). 

CMBS II will build upon the findings of CMBS I by harnessing advanced technology to document unexplored marine biomes and quantify more species. A key outcome will be the creation of baseline datasets to aid policymakers and conservationsists.

"Dalio Philanthropies is proud to support the National University of Singapore's Marine Biodiversity Survey of Southeast Asia," said Ms. Gretchen Wagner, Executive Director of Dalio Philanthropies. "We believe this work will contribute to sustainable development and ocean conservation by expanding scientific knowledge of the region's understudied species and building capacity among research scientists throughout Southeast Asia."

Researchers conduct in-water surveys as part of the Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey (CMBS II). 

This project will allow top specialists in the field to use cutting-edge technology to discover and quantify the biodiversity in Southeast Asia, that will enable the next generation of ocean leaders and scientists to use the data and information to operationalise the protection of marine habitats and species.

Beyond species classification, the initiative aims to empower local researchers, support hands-on training and establish a collaborative network of scientists and volunteer. These teams will be deployed to five Southeast Asian sites for targeted biodiversity studies, laying the foundation for pan-ASEAN conservation efforts. The grant also supports regional capacity-building and aims to inspire further collaboration in pan-ASEAN ocean conservation.