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Planting new coral in degraded reefs can lead to rapid recovery – with restored reefs growing as fast as healthy reefs after just four years, new research shows.
Reefs worldwide are severely threatened by local and global pressures. In Indonesia, where the study was carried out, destructive blast fishing destroyed large reef areas 30-40 years ago – with no signs of recovery until now.
The Mars Coral Reef Restoration Programme attempts to restore degraded reefs by transplanting coral fragments onto a network of interconnected “Reef Stars” (sand-coated steel frames).
Researchers studied these reefs to assess whether coral restoration can bring back the important ecosystem functions of a healthy reef.
The study was carried out by University of Exeter researchers in collaboration with the Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in Indonesia, Mars Sustainable Solutions and Lancaster University.
“The speed of recovery we saw is incredible,” said lead author Dr Ines Lange, from the University of Exeter.
news.exeter.ac.uk
Reefs worldwide are severely threatened by local and global pressures. In Indonesia, where the study was carried out, destructive blast fishing destroyed large reef areas 30-40 years ago – with no signs of recovery until now.
The Mars Coral Reef Restoration Programme attempts to restore degraded reefs by transplanting coral fragments onto a network of interconnected “Reef Stars” (sand-coated steel frames).
Researchers studied these reefs to assess whether coral restoration can bring back the important ecosystem functions of a healthy reef.
The study was carried out by University of Exeter researchers in collaboration with the Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in Indonesia, Mars Sustainable Solutions and Lancaster University.
“The speed of recovery we saw is incredible,” said lead author Dr Ines Lange, from the University of Exeter.
Restored coral reefs can grow as fast as healthy reefs
Planting new coral in degraded reefs can lead to rapid recovery – with restored reefs growing as fast as healthy reefs after just four years, new research shows. Reefs worldwide are severely threatened by local
news.exeter.ac.uk
