Research need
This small research activity will establish a Southeast Asia network to implement coral larval restoration activities through processes that are adapted to suit the local context.
Coral reefs in Southeast Asia are globally significant for marine biodiversity and provide vital ecological, socio-economic and cultural benefits. However, their natural resilience is declining due to human impacts and climate change, particularly marine heatwaves that trigger mass coral bleaching. Protecting healthy reefs and actively restoring degraded ones is critical to sustaining coastal protection, fisheries and food security for local communities.
Mass larval culture and settlement on degraded reefs is a recognised and successful technique for reef restoration and is ready to be scaled up. Building on coral and fish habitat restoration and stakeholder training activities (ACIAR project FIS/2019/123), and a decade of research on restoration techniques, this project will develop an inclusive network between the Philippines, Indonesia and Australia to build capacity around reef coral restoration. Capacity will be shared from an integrated Philippine and Great Barrier Reef knowledge hub, leading to increased understanding of cost-effective and adaptable coral restoration approaches. Beyond this project, the network could extend to other countries in Southeast Asia and to the Pacific region.
