Following the severe 2023-24 coral bleaching events that unfolded across the Caribbean, The Nature Conservancy’s U.S. Virgin Islands program pivoted the focus of its Coral Innovation Hub to incorporate resilience into reef science and management. With the goal of enhancing coral resilience and increasing the post-outplanting survivorship of restored reefs, the program proposes a multi-step approach that integrates innovative tools with existing management practices.
During this webinar, Jessica Ward, U.S. Virgin Islands Program Director with The Nature Conservancy, presented about why the USVI Coral Program started a restoration program, details about their efforts, and their need to respond with resilience to mass bleaching events. Catilin Lustic, U.S. Virgin Islands Coral Program Manager, presented next about the multiple components of the USVI Coral Program’s resilience toolbox, including bleaching monitoring, genetic and thermal testing, lab-rearing techniques, and utilizing large-scale spatial data to identify refugia.
Dr. Steve Schill, Director of Science and Strategy, TNC Caribbean Division, concluded the presentations by sharing more details on his work using drones to conduct remote sensing missions in the USVI. Dr. Schill also shared details on how managers with small budgets can get started with drone monitoring and utilize these cutting-edge technologies to improve their management outcomes.
The recording and resources mentioned during the webinar, including the Coral Reef Restoration Online Course, are now available.
This webinar was brought to you by the Reef Resilience Network with support from the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program.
