Our Core Partners

Co-founded in 2004 by Pacific Beachcomber owner Richard Bailey and veterinarian Dr. Cecile Gasper, who holds a PhD in marine ecology, Te mana o te moana is a non-profit organization dedicated to marine research. The organization is headquartered in Moorea, where it has established offices, a classroom, a laboratory, and other facilities to support its services. Te mana proudly manages the property’s onsite Sea Turtle Care Center, a marine rehabilitation program established with the Ministry of the Environment, which has cared for more than 500 turtles since its inception.

The foundation also works in close partnership with several of our properties, and has established a research program to study green turtles on the important nesting site of Tetiaroa Atoll. An important global model for sea turtle conservation, the initiative has documented more than 120,000 hatchlings to date. Te mana’s other programs include coral restoration research and implementation, and coordinates the International Reef Check program, in addition to extended educational outreach with local schools. More than 90,000 students have visited their facilities since opening.

Te mana promotes environmental awareness for guests, local communities and schoolchildren throughout French Polynesia. The organization added the Lagoon School at The Brando in 2014. Their interactive  programs advance conservation efforts and understanding, encouraging future generations to become eco-citizens and active stewards of their island homes. Te Mana is an expert and member of International Union for Conservation of Nature.

After spending 19 years at the Intercontinental Moorea Resort & Spa, the association’s offices have been moved to InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa. This move allows the association to expand its projects and initiatives to a new island, including the transfer of the Sea turtle rehabilitation center and the resumption of education and awareness activities.

Born from Marlon Brando’s vision for the Tetiaroa Atoll to act as a “University of the Sea”, Tetiaroa Society is a US-based nonprofit organization with the authority and responsibility to manage, conserve, and protect the Tetiaroa Atoll, home to The Brando Resort.

Through conservation, innovative research and education, Tetiaroa Society aims to further global knowledge of the interdependence of humankind and nature. By strengthening their resilience to global change, enhancing their ecosystem services and preserving their traditional heritage, the Society works to ensure that island and coastal communities enjoy a future as rich as their past.

Founded in 2013, Tetiaroa Society manages The Brando Resort’s EcoStation, which serves as the hub for island research and conservation, and as a working base for international scientists and students. Facilities include housing for up to 20 researchers, in addition to dry and wet labs and other scientific facilities. Through a comprehensive Conservation and Sustainable Use Plan, Tetiaroa Society develops and carries out conservation and education, hosts scientific research, and expands and curates the island’s knowledge base.

Additional activities include the establishment of ranger patrols to protect the atoll and its biodiversity, the implementation of bird observation and fishing guidelines, a naturalist guide training program, and the formation of a Cultural Committee to oversee the protection and restoration of ancient archeological sites found on the atoll.

Guests of The Brando are invited to learn more about initiatives at the EcoStation’s visitor center and through excursions led by resident naturalist guides and scientists. The Society’s ongoing relationships with leading research institutions from around the world – including the Smithsonian, the University of Washington, and CRIOBE – allow Tetiaroa Atoll to serve as a global base for marine science inquiry and global progress.