Coral Restoration Program

Coral reefs are marine ecosystems found in warm oceanic waters. They are home to between 25% and 60% of the species estimated in all oceanic environments. In addition to providing food for human and animal communities, they provide protection to coasts and human infrastructure from extreme weather events, they are tourist attractions and are linked to the identity of many peoples.  Due to various causes, including sediment accumulation, pollution and global warming, coral reefs have been deteriorating at an accelerated rate since the mid-20th century, threatening their permanence over time.

Coral restoration is a responsible way to intervene in these ecosystems to improve their condition and contribute to their natural recovery. It is an innovative option among climate change adaptation measures.

Costa Rica has important coral reef areas. On the Pacific coast, 47 zooxanthellate coral species have been identified, and on the Caribbean coast, the inventory reports about 41 species of hard corals.

The country has also made international commitments for the protection of these ecosystems, reflected in the National Biodiversity Strategy (NBS). This includes Global Goal 4, which states that "By 2025, marine-coastal and freshwater ecosystems will have been rehabilitated, restored and protected" and, in line with this, National Goal 15, which proposes to increase the percentage of coral reef coverage under restoration and protection processes.

Likewise, Global Goal 21 of the NBS indicates that "By 2020 the Biodiversity Information National System will be consolidated for decision making and management" and in response to it, National Goal 90 is established, on the need to determine species and conditions that allow the propagation of corals for their restoration.

Thus, in 2019 the Executive Decree 41774-MINAE "Promotion of restoration and conservation initiatives for the recovery of coral ecosystems" becomes the first Costa Rican legal instrument for the specific protection of coral reefs and SINAC articulated the Coral Restoration Program, and with the technical support of the German Development Cooperation Agency, GIZ, presented in 2020 a Protocol for the restoration of coral reefs and communities. The Coral Restoration Program is active in 6 coastal areas, with special presence in the Papagayo Peninsula, Golfo Dulce and Cahuita National Park. In addition to concrete restoration practices, the program articulates environmental education actions, training on the use of the Protocol, training in diving and coral gardening, design of marine trails and the processing of new restoration initiatives, the latter by SINAC.

The Protocol is a new tool that integrates concepts and ideas related to marine education, articulating the theoretical and practical reasons that drive coral restoration efforts and based on the techniques and results of the coral restoration project developed in Golfo Dulce in Costa Rica, by the Raising Coral Costa Rica Association (RCCR), and in conjunction with the Center for Marine Science and Limnology Research of the University of Costa Rica (CIMAR/UCR). The Protocol establishes techniques that have proven to be successful, offering possibilities to standardize at a national level the technical-legal procedures for the cultivation and transplantation (in-situ) of corals. The Protocol also establishes a profile for restoration practitioners/coral gardeners and characterizes the multiple potential benefits of a properly managed coral restoration project.

GIZ's participation occurs through a Triangular Cooperation project between the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Germany, in which Costa Rica shares its experience on financial mechanisms and payment for environmental services, while the Dominican Republic transfers its experience of more than 15 years restoring coral reefs.  Private companies, public universities and civil society organizations such as Costa Rica Coral Restoration and Rising Coral Costa Rica, among others, also participate in the articulation.