Restoration as a meaningful aid to ecological recovery of coral reefs

Restoration efforts are increasing worldwide to tackle ongoing threats that are causing widespread declines in coral reef size and health. The authors argue that, despite criticism, coral reef restoration is crucial for ecological recovery. Critics often see restoration as a distraction from efforts to prevent reef loss, but the authors contend these criticisms stem from misconceptions based on small-scale experiments and cost concerns.

Restoration involves active intervention to support the recovery of coral reef structure, function, and key species, enhancing resilience and ecosystem services. The authors highlight the difference between “ecological restoration” (hands-on recovery efforts) and “restoration ecology” (the science behind these efforts). Many restoration ecology studies rely on small-scale experiments aimed at developing techniques and identifying issues early. Pooling the results of these small-scale experiments to draw evidence of the impact of restoration on the ecosystem leads to flawed conclusions about restoration’s broader effectiveness. Few restoration projects have monitored or reported long-term ecological outcomes, and large-scale documentation of coral reef restoration is rare. Consequently, much remains to be learned about the overall effectiveness of coral reef restoration.

The authors also criticize the focus on cost or cost-effectiveness as the primary metric for evaluating restoration. Restoration should not be judged solely on cost-effectiveness but on its ability to protect the intrinsic, cultural, and ecosystem service values of coral reefs. The authors advocate for greater investment and long-term monitoring to fully understand the benefits of restoration. They recommend integrating restoration into a broader resilience-based management strategy for coral reefs, with clear goals and evaluations to avoid misinterpretation of success and viability.

Implications for managers

• Understand that the goals and outcomes of ecological restoration projects are distinct from those of small-scale experiments, and avoid conflating the two when evaluating success.
• Clearly define and communicate the specific goals, scale, and intended outcomes of restoration projects.
• Evaluate restoration projects not just on cost-effectiveness but also on their ability to protect the intrinsic, cultural, and ecosystem service values of coral reefs.
• Secure funding for sustained, long-term monitoring to accurately assess the ecological benefits of restoration. Integrate long-term restoration plans into your reef management strategy.

Author: Suggett, D.J., J. Guest, E.F. Camp, A. Edwards, L. Goergen, M. Hein, A. Humanes, J.S. Levy, P.H. Montoya-Maya, D.J. Smith, T. Vardi, R.S. Winters, and T. Moore
Year: 2024

Npj Ocean Sustainability 3:20. doi: 10.1038/s44183-024-00056-8
View Full Article