SHEBA® Hope Advocate Program: Advancing World’s Largest Global Reef Restoration Initiative

A team of seven international advocates, with Malaysian marine biologist Alif Kazman representing Southeast Asia, successfully concluded a 10-day coral reef restoration program at the SHEBA® Hope Reef located in Indonesia’s Spermonde Archipelago

Mars, Incorporated’s pet food brand, SHEBA®, proudly announces the successful completion of the SHEBA® Hope Advocate Program, uniting two Indonesian hosts and five global advocates from the SHEBA® Hope Grows Collective hailing from the UK, Germany, the USA, and Southeast Asia. Among these advocates, representing Southeast Asia was Alif Kazman, a marine biologist from Malaysia.

Alif and his fellow advocates concluded their impactful 10-day journey at the SHEBA® Hope Reef, situated on Bontosua Island within the Spermonde Archipelago off the coast of Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. During their time at the reef, they actively collaborated with the local community, received hands-on restoration training, and contributed to the restoration of coral reef using Reef Stars, a vital component of the Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System.

In Alif’s words, “As a young scientist, it was an honor for me to be selected as a SHEBA® Hope Advocate to represent Southeast Asia and to have the opportunity to learn more about the unique research program that supports reef restoration. It was eye-opening to see the scale of the SHEBA® Hope Reef and its impact on the local community, researchers, and field officers who work together. The experience was once-in-a-lifetime for me, and I am eager to impart knowledge about the importance of marine conservation to my peers and the younger generation.”

The SHEBA® Hope Advocate Program is an integral part of the global reef restoration initiative known as SHEBA® Hope Grows. This program commenced with the creation of a 46x14m structure spelling out the letters H-O-P-E using restored coral in Bontosua in 2019. What was previously a barren and lifeless underwater landscape has now transformed into a thriving coral reef ecosystem, with coral growth surging from 2% to an impressive 70%. Fish populations have increased by 260%, and the number of fish species has seen a remarkable 64% rise. By 2029, SHEBA® aims to restore more than 185,000 square meters of coral reefs—equivalent to approximately 148 Olympic swimming pools—at key locations worldwide.

Dr. Susan Wan, General Manager, Mars Petcare Indonesia, emphasized the brand’s commitment to creating a better world for pets and protecting the environment. She stated, “The SHEBA® brand is a proud part of the Mars family, driven by our purpose to create a better world for pets. It’s more than simply a cat food company; their global movement Hope Grows is inspiring change. It is now more important than ever to take further action to protect the environment, our climate, and local communities. Our program demonstrates how Hope can flourish even in the most trying situations by sharing knowledge and working together to protect and restore critically threatened ecosystems.”

Philippa Mansell, Indonesia Marine Program Lead at Mars Sustainable Solutions, expressed her enthusiasm for the SHEBA® Hope Advocate Program, which received an overwhelmingly positive response from around the world. She stressed the critical impact of the advocates’ work in preserving and restoring the beauty of the ocean and ensuring a sustainable future for marine life.

As part of the SHEBA® Hope Advocate program, the SHEBA® brand is collaborating with selected retailers in the Philippines to collect donations, which will be used to create Reef Stars to be planted in the iconic SHEBA® Hope Reef in Bontosua Island, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. For every purchase of any SHEBA® product in Lazada Philippines (Pedigree and Whiskas Flagship Store), 5% of the purchase value will be donated to the coral reef restoration efforts at the SHEBA® Hope Reef.

SHEBA®’s commitment to sustainability is reinforced by the support of its parent company, Mars, Incorporated, and its dedication to protecting the planet through initiatives like the Sustainable in a Generation Plan.

To learn more about this global coral restoration movement and to get involved, follow the Hope Grows movement online via the SHEBA® Hope Grows website and SHEBA® Hope Grows Instagram.