Reef Restoration and Resilience

My heritage in tourism and love of the ocean (having grown up on an island) fueled a deep fascination with coral reefs, shaping my passion to protect these vital ecosystems from pressing global challenges. At Iberostar Group , this dedication is shared by our people as we strive to safeguard marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. We firmly believe that science, innovation and stewardship are essential to their survival and hopefully their proliferation (my ultimate wish).

With this mission in mind, we launched Wave of Change , a movement aimed to transition our business towards a responsible model of tourism, with the hope of inspiring others to take the journey with us. What began in 2018 with our first coral nursery in the Dominican Republic, has now grown into a multinational reef restoration program, with eight nurseries established across the Caribbean, and a fully dedicated scientific team that brings expertise and seeks out innovative solutions to make these ecosystems flourish.?

At our Coral Lab in Iberostar Selection Bávaro in the Dominican Republic, we're growing high-temperature resistant coral colonies and ecologically important species using microfragmentation techniques. This genetic bank is crucial for preserving coral biodiversity and ensuring their long-term survival. Understanding the serious threat that Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) poses to reefs, our scientific team is also researching probiotics to enhance coral resilience, helping them survive this disease and minimize tissue loss.

At Iberostar Paraíso in Mexico, we’ve established a CBASS (Coral Bleaching Automated Stress System) to study the thermotolerance of our coral samples and provide shelter for microfragmented corals during adverse climate events. By prioritizing these resilient individuals, we aim to strengthen the resilience of our restoration efforts against future bleaching events.

The Wave of Change movement is a significant source of pride for our company, but also one of risk prevention. Our long-term success as beach front resorts relies heavily on what the surrounding ocean provides - in terms of nature-based solutions, livelihoods, food and protection. Our successes with establishing this program highlights the strength of collaboration among diverse stakeholders, and I am pleased to say that the approach within our sector is one of innovation to ensure corals thrive for future generations for everyone to benefit from.