Corals for Climate is one of the largest and longest-running coral restoration projects in the Caribbean. The project certifies local fishermen as coral gardeners, boat captains, scuba divers and artisans to reduce over-fishing on the reef, while providing tourism jobs for local fishermen and their families. We train young scientists in restoration. By reducing fishing pressure and increasing coral cover, we help rebuild resilient reefs and protect this critically endangered ecosystem.
Coral reefs are critically important habitats but have suffered from degradation and decline worldwide. The coral reefs of the Punta Cana region, one of the most important tourism destinations in the Caribbean, have been deeply impacted by overfishing, pollution, and climate change. Corals for Climate seeks to scale reef restoration efforts by integrating local fishers and their families and young scientists into conservation and tourism-based jobs, such coral as reef gardeners.
By providing alternative income opportunities for local fishermen, Corals for Climate will expand our coral reef restoration activities, recover local fish stocks, and provide viable livelihoods for local people. With increased resources, we will be able to expand our restoration efforts in the Punta Cana region and then share our expertise with other tourism destinations and countries, providing training and research opportunities for organizations and young scientists throughout the region.
Corals for Climate is one of the largest and longest-running coral restoration projects in the Caribbean. The goal is to restore endangered coral reef populations on the local reef in Punta Cana until they become healthy, ecologically functional, and resilient to climate change. We are seeking to create a positive example of tourism industry contributing to the health and well-being of the local ecosystem and replicating that example in other destinations.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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