AET Partners with Galveston Bay Foundation on Environmental Conservation at Chocolate Bay Preserve

(L to R) Suzanne Simpson, land acquisition manager, Galveston Bay Foundation; Capt. Ron Wood, head of New Energy & Decarbonisation, MISC; Nicole Scanlin, director of development, Galveston Bay Foundation at Chocolate Bay Preserve. Photo courtesy of AET.

AET, a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysian energy logistics group, MISC Berhad, has partnered with Galveston Bay Foundation on a major environmental restoration initiative aimed at protecting and enhancing the Chocolate Bay Preserve – a 4,714-acre wetland located along Halls Bayou and West Galveston Bay in Texas.

As part of the collaboration, AET led the implementation of a key repair project to restore a damaged water control structure that had disrupted the area’s delicate ecological balance. The restoration supports the long-term health of the preserve’s ecosystem and its role in carbon sequestration.

The Chocolate Bay Preserve is a vital coastal habitat for many species of birds, rare plants, and marine animals. It also serves as a carbon sink, a natural system that absorbs and stores more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases.

However, recent damage to the water control structure on the preserve's eastern side had impaired the natural exchange of fresh and saltwater, placing increasing pressure on the preserve’s delicate ecosystem. Left unaddressed, this could have resulted in:

• Imbalanced salinity levels, threatening key coastal vegetation.
• Degradation of natural habitats, reducing biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
• Reduced carbon sequestration, diminishing the preserve's ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

AET's contribution enabled the necessary repair works to proceed, reinstating hydrological processes essential for preserving the site’s ecological integrity and carbon sequestration capacity. The restoration ensures that the preserve can continue playing its role in protecting biodiversity and supporting long-term climate resilience in the region.

“This project reflects the kind of practical, community-based conservation we’re proud to support through our #AETCares program, which guides our community investment initiatives. Real progress often happens in places few people see, and it’s a privilege for AET to contribute in such a meaningful, hands-on way. A small step, but one we believe is worth taking,” said Smriti Sharma, global director, Strategy, Sustainability and Enterprise Risk Management at AET.

“The generous donation from AET is a tremendous boost to our efforts to protect our almost 5,000-acre Chocolate Bay Preserve,” said Bob Stokes, president of Galveston Bay Foundation. “These funds will directly support critical wetland infrastructure repairs that will safeguard vital coastal habitat on this property from saltwater intrusion and damage from future storms.”

This collaboration is part of AET’s broader sustainability and community outreach efforts, aligning with its commitment to responsible business practices and supporting local environmental priorities.