Seminar: Rethinking coral restoration; can we cultivate an entire coral reef?

Seminar: Rethinking coral restoration; can we cultivate an entire coral reef?

Zac H. Forsman, PhD Researcher Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) Coral restoration has evolved from small scale token efforts that often face heavy criticism for diverting resources away from underlying problems, to the last hope for entire geographic regions facing reef extinction. Coral reefs are highly sensitive to anthropogenic stress and there is growing concern that they may not survive the ongoing climate crisis, threatening the key role that coral reefs play in protecting shorelines, providing habitat for fisheries, sand for beaches, income from tourism, and priceless inherent natural value. Here I review efforts currently underway to cultivate corals, including micro-fragmentation, research