Rebuilding Reefs: Adapting Restoration Approaches to Meet Global Challenges

Coral reefs are critical ecosystems supporting high biodiversity and vital economic resources for nearly a billion people worldwide. However, rising ocean temperatures are increasingly causing coral bleaching—a process in which corals lose their vibrant color and often die if stressful conditions persist. This widespread bleaching is drastically reducing coral coverage globally, with projections suggesting that over 90% of coral reefs could be lost by 2050. The urgent preservation of coral ecosystems requires a global effort.

Currently, coral restoration initiatives face scrutiny due to the limited evidence supporting their long-term success and the lack of long-term monitoring. Restoration outcomes could be significantly enhanced through evidence-based, science-informed strategies, especially in regions with limited access to advanced technologies such as geoengineering or genetic interventions. A rational design of approaches to assess restoration success based on research-informed criteria is a critical gap in supporting biodiversity conservation.

Our goal is to develop a framework for coral reef restoration that is grounded in science and designed to be adaptable and scalable. This approach focuses on real-world applications and measures long-term outcomes in terms of increased reef biomass, impacts on both micro- and macro-biodiversity, and improvements in ecosystem services, such as fisheries. By prioritizing practical, transformative, and evidence-based interventions aiming at a high return of investment, our framework will contribute to effectively supporting reef preservation on a global scale.