The value of coral reef restoration in the face of climate change

As many of us have witnessed over the last few years, the world has experienced a massive decline in coral reef health.

Some of the causes of this decline are rooted in the increasing ocean temperatures, increased acidification of our oceans, and other human impacts. In response to these threats, organizations around the globe have taken action and have been actively putting coral restoration into practice in order to upkeep the damaged reefs.

A useful effort?

Unfortunately, due to a lack of long-term monitoring (most projects have a median restoration period of 12 months) and a shortage of data collection based on metrics outside of a limited number of “success” parameters, it is difficult to assess and share the best general practices.?

While there are many in the scientific community that hails the efforts of these projects, many others argue that coral reef restoration is a mere band-aid solution to large-scale disturbances and a distraction from global action on threat reduction.

On the other hand, some experts agree that global changes in our oceans could take decades and that local efforts such as coral reef restoration are essential to sustain and re-build coral reef ecosystems. Both global and local actions are essential to the survival of coral reefs and can be achieved at the same time.

When to plan for coral restoration?

Having said this, restoring corals should never be the first point of action in a reef management strategy, but rather part of a strategy in a carefully planned ecosystem framework as restoration may not always be appropriate.

Here are the 3 steps to follow before planning and designing a reef management plan:

1. Assess the cause(s) of coral decline (e.g., pollution, human activities, bleaching).
2. Review factors affecting the potential for natural recovery of corals (e.g., spawning capacity, barriers to coral recruitment, limits to coral growth).
3. Determine which intervention is best suited. There is a wide range of options (see below)

For example, further exacerbating the situation are local causes of reef degradation. Identifying, reducing, and/or removing these local pressures are all critical steps in effective coral reef restoration. There is no point in replanting a coral reef, in a place where corals have died due to poor water quality if the water quality has not been addressed and improved prior to planting.

?Another example in the battle against reef management, and one of the most common, non-climate related barriers to natural recovery, are substrate limitations and/or recruitment limitations.

This can occur for a number of reasons such as unconsolidated coral rubble which moves freely with the currents and constantly flips making it difficult for new corals to attach and survive.

A solution to this might lie in finding a way to stabilize the rubble to allow natural coral aggregation.

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Several key recommendations on coral reef management can be made

• First, coral restoration should not be considered a silver bullet, a solution to all causes coral degradation.
• Second, coral restoration can be extremely useful at a local level against disturbances and to support resilience.
• Third, focus on the overall function of the coral community and not just on restoring hard corals.
• Last, the implementation of “climate-smart” designs that account for future uncertainties and changes.

The concept of Climate-smart design was adapted to reef restoration by Jordan M. West and colleagues in their article "Adaptation Design Tool for Climate-Smart Management of Coral Reefs and Other Natural Resources "

It can be synthesized with the following graph that highlights the need to revisit the "business-as-usual" restoration conceptual models through a climate lens and reevaluate the appropriateness or feasibility of existing and planned management activities due to the continuously growing understanding of climate change risks to coral reefs and other ecosystems.

As well the aforementioned recommendations, the following four coral reef restoration strategies should be implemented:

1)????Planning and assessing around specific goals and objectives.

2)????Identifying adaptive strategies to balance risks and trade-offs.

3)????Engaging communities in all stages of the restoration efforts.

4)????Developing long-term monitoring plans to allow for adaptive management and the success of specific methods.

It is time to work together using our combined and improved knowledge to combat the effects of the elements involved in the deterioration of our coral reefs.

Have you implemented these steps in your restoration project?

Are you aware of all of the elements involved in maintaining a healthy reef and its ecosystem? If not, we’re here to help!

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Catherine ?provides turnkey solutions to environmental challenges and strategic sustainability consulting to help communities and governments in small island nations become more resilient and less vulnerable to our changing environment.?

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