Coral Gardens: A Sustainable Step to Healthy Coral Reefs and Empowered Communities

By Maggie Farrand

Coral reefs are among the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth, providing habitat and nurseries for marine life, protecting coasts and shorelines from storms and contributing to local economies through tourism and fishing. Furthermore, reef systems provide protein to tens of millions of people, create jobs and contribute billions of dollars to the economy worldwide.

Coral at risk

However coral reefs globally are at risk. In the Caribbean, Staghorn (Acropora cervicornis) and Elkhorn (A. palmata) corals are in decline. Only thirty years ago these corals comprised 70 percent of reefs in the region. Since 1980, Caribbean reef populations have collapsed mainly due to overfishing, agricultural run-off and bleaching from increasing ocean temperatures.

In May 2006, Staghorn andElkhorn corals were added to the U.S. endangered species list— the first such listing for reef building corals. Both species have declined 80 to 99 percent from historical populations, negatively impacting the structure and function of reefs – making it so they are unable to recover without intervention.

Counterpart's role

Counterpart International is a leader in the emerging field of coral restoration – our Coral Gardens program is developing low-tech, cost-effective systems for growing and transplanting corals to restore degraded reef ecosystems and community-based fisheries. Counterpart is working to save these critical species from extinction by developing healthy, localized reef patches with capacity for successful regeneration.

We have implemented Coral Garden Reef Restoration activities over the past ten years, resulting in 36 projects in eight countries spanning the Pacific and the Caribbean. This work has generated impressive results—at minimum, Counterpart has produced 5–12 times the original amount of coral at each site and has demonstrated  a five-fold increase in fish and shellfish abundance in targeted sites, with corresponding nutritional and economic benefits for local communities.

Counterpart’s Coral Gardens approach combines strategies for sustainable management of marine ecosystems with restoration of coral reefs and associated habitats where appropriate: 

• Nurseries are established by trimming coral fragments from existing wild populations then securing them on underwater structures.
• The original coral is grown over a number of years and trimmed or propagated every 9 – 12 months, increasing the original fragments by ten times.
• Second generation corals are planted back onto the reef and monitored for overall health and reproduction potential.

Meanwhile, the nursery itself can reach maturity and spawn, releasing millions of coral larvae into the ocean, further contributing to the natural restoration process.

A comprehensive approach

Aside from these specific techniques, the Coral Gardens program is strengthened as a whole when restoration is accompanied by community engagement. Engaged communities take on a sense of ownership, which leads to an empowered constituency that can advocate for strengthened oversight, resource management and sustainable livelihoods that greatly contribute to national economies through fisheries and tourism.

Climate change has been negatively affecting global ecosystems, like coral reefs, for decades. However, projects that implement sustainable regeneration of natural habitats with committed community collaboration are a step in the right direction. Through initiatives like Coral Gardens, Counterpart is doing its part in adapting to climate change.

Want to know how you can do your part?

1. Learn more about our Coral Gardens initiatives around the world.
2. Donate to Counterpart International’s coral reef restoration efforts.
3. Listen to our Coral Gardens podcast.
4. Contact Counterpart International with questions.

November 8th, 2010 | Tags: acropora, coral, coral gardens, coral reef, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Honduras, Jamaica | Category:

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