Updates from World Surfing Reserves across the globe! We are proud to share the latest news from our flagship program that designates and protects outstanding waves and their surrounding environments.

All around the world, World Surfing Reserves represent passionate communities that are protecting water quality, reducing plastic pollution, ensuring access, protecting and celebrating surf history, building climate resiliency and so much more.

Keep scrolling to read the latest and thank you for your support!

On the Ground Update: Stewardship Activities at World Surfing Reserves

Supported by Save The Waves Coalition's WSR Stewardship Fund, North Devon, Huanchacho, and Guarda do Embaú WSRs have started stewardship projects using nature-based solutions to address climate change resilience within their reserves. 

North Devon, U.K.: Watershed Restoration

The North Devon World Surfing Reserve has created a unique stewardship project that tackles one of the key threats to the surf ecosystem: water quality. This project aims to restore local watersheds with small natural feature, wooden debris dams that help filter runoff and slow the flow of water during intense rainfall periods.

The North Devon WSR will restore up to 40 different natural features to restore watershed habitat. As an additional benefit, these natural feature dams capture plastics and other man-made materials that would otherwise end up in the ocean.

Huanchaco, Peru: Utilizing Traditional Ecological Knowledge to Protect Their Waves

The Huanchaco World Surfing Reserve is enhancing climate resilience by restoring totora ponds. “Totora” is a reed found in coastal ponds, which has been utilized for thousands of years to construct one of the world's earliest surf crafts known as the caballito de totora. Many of these ponds have vanished over time due to development and coastal erosion.

This project has successfully created and restored 28 totora ponds in Huanchaco, covering 3,000 cubic meters. By employing the ancient tradition of the caballito de totora, Huanchaco WSR is safeguarding its surf ecosystems for future generations.

Guarda do Embau, Brazil: Water Quality Testing and Native Plant Restoration

The Guarda do Embau World Surfing Reserve continues to be laser-focused on protecting the Rio do Madre River, the lifeblood of the surf ecosystem. 

In their “Water for Life” stewardship project, they are focused on 3 major objectives: 1) expanding their water quality testing program to identify problem areas, 2) implementing a robust coastal monitoring strategy that will assess the movement of the river throughout the changing seasons, and 3) restoring native plants in site-specific locations to curtail the erosion brought on by a changing climate.

Who Selects The World Surfing Reserves? Meet the Vision Council 

When Save The Waves created the World Surfing Reserves program 15 years ago, the organization knew it was important to have a group of professionals in the surf and conservation space to help guide the program, establish criteria for applications, and, most importantly, deliberate on what surf ecosystem should be selected each year.

The Vision Council for the World Surfing Reserves program is an advisory body of leaders and visionaries in the nexus of coastal conservation and surfing. The primary function of the Vision Council is to review World Surfing Reserve applications each year and ultimately decide who will be recognized as the next WSR. The Vision Council also provides guidance and oversight to Save The Waves as the WSR program continues to grow and evolve to meet the needs of communities and coastlines.