Mangrove and coral restoration in the Caribbean

The Caribbean is home to 10% of the world’s coral reefs, with 60% of reefs located in the countries of Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica.  

Live coral cover—a key measure of coral health – in the Caribbean has declined by 60% over the past few decades due to significant and growing threats including warmer and more acidic oceans, pollution, unsustainable fishing practices, and habitat destruction. Degradation of coral reef ecosystems, which support fisheries, coastal protection, tourism and recreation revenue, threatens the future and livelihoods of the 44 million people who call the Caribbean home. The future of the Caribbean region is inextricably linked to the health of its coral reefs.

The decline of coral reefs is a significant global environmental problem. Conservationists are exploring new techniques to support coral reef restoration. Coral Assisted Reproduction, Biorock Technology, and Clonal Coral Propagation are several examples that involve sexual and asexual reproduction methods to produce and deploy new coral colonies. Enhancing genetic diversity, community integration, effective monitoring, and intervention sustainability are essential considerations in coral restoration efforts.  

Each scientific approach has its merits. For example, sexual reproduction results in high genetic diversity which, in turn, aids adaptation to environmental stressors, such as rising sea temperature, ocean acidification and coral diseases.  Once suitable genotypes are available, several clonal propagation methods allow for accelerated propagation of coral material for outplanting.  

In February, the CBF EbA Facility hosted a Mangrove and Coral Restoration Workshop in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic where an estimated 140 people joined the hybrid event to share best practices and participate in peer-to-peer exchange of practitioners’ experiences and lessons learnt from EbA projects on mangrove and coral restoration.

Protecting the Majority of the Caribbean’s Coral Reefs

The Ocean Foundation, a CBF EbA Facility grantee, and FUNDEMAR (consortium partner) are two organizations on the frontlines working to restore and protect coral reefs on a large scale in the most affected countries—Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica. The Ocean Foundation has facilitated a south-south peer exchange between Dominican and Cuban scientists to transfer the technology of sexual coral propagation to Cuba. The experience is documented in this captivating video.

FUNDEMAR monitors, researches, promotes community integration, and partners with stakeholders to expand its network that is currently in nine countries and counting. Recently, members from the organization delivered training in restoration methods to the Cuba coral restoration community. Learn more about the FUNDEMAR’S coral restoration work in its publication, Assisted Reproduction of Coral in DR.  

The Connection Between Mangroves and Coral Reefs

Coral reefs protect coastal communities by reducing the impact of storm surges and large waves long before they reach the shores and mangroves. This symbiotic relationship allows for even greater collaboration between CBF EbA Facility grantees and other conservation partners.

MARFUND through its collaboration of trust funds in Belize, Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras are working to protect the Mesoamerican Reef which spans over 1000 km of coastline. MARFUND and its partners have developed the Manual for the Ecological Restoration of Mangroves in the Mesoamerican Reef System and Wider Caribbean, which is a key resource for a regional strategy to protect mangroves. The strategy includes conservation, economic alternatives, economic and institutional frameworks, governance and participation, research and knowledge transfer, and enabling components for strategic implementation.  

Challenges and Best Practices in Mangrove Restoration

Mangroves ecosystems are under extreme pressure from climate change and anthropogenic impact.  While mangroves are superb at absorbing storm surges and flood water from climate-related events, mangrove ecosystems are declining. Mangrove restoration projects need to get to the root of the problem and address these causes, prior to any active restoration.  The need to cater to a wide range of stakeholders with often conflicting agendas adds a further layer of challenges.

Though the protection of these vital resources is rife with challenges, the task is achievable. The Caribbean Biodiversity Fund is but one of the many organizations taking action right now to create a Caribbean where both its natural environment and people thrive for generations to come.