[Coral-List] Coral Reef Restoration?

Kristen Hoss kristenhoss at yahoo.com
Fri May 2 09:51:39 EDT 2008


Don,

I understand your point to a point. However I believe
that the term "coral reef restoration" is applicable
for projects where the reef tract has been damaged by
groundings, cable drags, anchor drags and other such
anthropogenic sources.  In these cases, during
"restoration" efforts, corals are cemented to the
hardbottom, from which they were seperated, and
sponges held in place so that they can regenerate.  
These coral reef restoration efforts are supported by
data which show that instead of dying, the corals and
sponges lived, thus the reef itself was restored to
its original composition and "look".  The data also
supports regrowth of other benthic organisms and
acceptance of cement as a substrate to grow on.  

There is no way to make everything exactly how it was,
restore it to it's original condition without
introducing change.  However, a coral reef is not
static and it experiences change every day.  Some
things remain "in situ" through these natural changes
unless there is a storm or natural disaster, such as
where a coral recruits and grows and where a sponge
settles and establishes.  These are the things that
can be "restored"

Kristen Hoss
Ecologist and Educator
Vone Research Inc.
"Diving to make a difference"
www.voneresearch.org



--- Don Baker <reefpeace at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Coral-List Members
> 
> Though this subject may have been discussed in the
> past herein this List, I think its important to
> clarify as to what "Coral Reef Restoration" actually
> means.
> 
> We read a plethora of programs, proposals, projects,
> and perhaps 'environmental pipe dreams' about
> 'undertaking coral reef restoration.'  But what are
> the successes, the real accomplishments out in the
> real world and not within someone's book, magazine
> article, or grant write up?
> 
> Can we actually restore a reef?   How many square
> miles can we restore?
> 
> Will coral farming seedling rejects add to a
> restoration area?  Do Reef Balls help at all in the
> big picture or only as highly localized cosmetic,
> band-aid ecosystem touch ups.  
> 
> Where is the real and present data that
> substantiates any successful coral reef restoration
> endeavor?  I am not referring to MPA establishment. 
> I am referring to actual coral transplants,
> re-plants, etc.
> 
> Can we actually restore a coral reef?  Or will
> 'mother nature' take care of its own and restore if
> human affections are eliminated?
> 
> In short, I think we need to be very careful
> whenever we 'use' the concept of coral reef
> restoration in any of our write ups, project drafts,
>  and grant proposals.
> 
> Don
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Alternate Email: donbjr95 at hotmail.com
> 
> "Dedication and motivated direction in achieving
> specific goals related to the care and protection of
> living things is not necessarily a guaranteed
> formula for success.  Success is, more often than
> not, a direct result of a person’s passion in
> addition to the above formula." [Don Baker, Marine
> Conservationist/Activist, 1998]
>        
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