Coral Restoration Project:
Restoring Marine Ecosystem Services by Rehabilitating Coral Reefs to Meet a Changing Climate Future

Following a Call for Proposal in 2022, Reef Conservation is one of two NGOs selected to implement, contribute, and support the achievement of specific project outcomes and activities in coral restoration in the Blue Bay Marine Park, located in the southeast region of Mauritius. The Coral Restoration project, spanning six years from 2021 to 2026 and funded by the Adaptation Fund (AF), is directly implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Albion Fisheries Research Centre (AFRC) and the Mauritius Oceanography Institute (MOI), both under the aegis of the Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping. This project supports coral restoration activities, capacity building programmes, and knowledge exchange across the Republic of Mauritius and the Republic of Seychelles.

Project Objective

The project's primary objective is to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on local communities and coral-reef dependent economic sectors in Mauritius and Seychelles. This will be achieved by implementing restoration efforts using thermally tolerant corals as a climate change adaptation strategy.

Expected outcomes

1. Reduce the impact of climate change on local communities and coral reef dependent economic sectors in Mauritius.
2. Support the capacity building of fisherfolk and their families, affected by COVID-19 and the Merchant Vessel (MV) Wakashio Oil Spill.
3. Support alternative livelihoods while at the same time ensuring the mainstreaming of biodiversity in the production landscapes.

Our Role in the Coral Restoration Project

Following our appointment by UNDP, we partnered with Beau Vallon Ltee and Mauritius Underwater Group (MUG). Our responsibilities in this project, during the implementation period from 14 March 2022 to 05 October 2026, include:.

• Cultivating at least 85, 000 coral nubbins in ocean nurseries.
• Restoring a minimum of 1.6 hectares of reefs in the Blue Bay Marine Park (BBMP).
• Training approximately 140 beneficiaries, including coastal community members, in coral culture and restoration techniques.
• Developing a sustainable partnership and community-based approach to reef restoration.
• Providing training to build capacity for long-term sustainable coral reef restoration.

Coral Restoration Training Programme

As part of the coral restoration project, Reef Conservation will train at least 100 stakeholders from the community and hotel sector in coral plantation and restoration techniques. The initiative includes developing a strategic plan for self-sustaining nurseries and building partnership with the private/hotel sectors. Reef Conservation has started collaborating with hoteliers to implement small-scale reef restoration training programmes and create coral gardens at selected hotel sites around Mauritius.

Training Programme Details

1. Sharing Knowledge and Technical Know-How
   • Five-day training in basic coral restoration techniques
2. Partnership with stakeholders interested in implementing small-scale initiatives for reef Restoration
   • Two-year coral restoration training programme including:
     1. Advanced training to participants
     2. Nurseries set up, management and monitoring
     3. Coral gardens creation, management and monitoring

Pilot Phase

Currently, a pilot phase is in progress, involving the training of three hotels over a two-year programme. Each year, three additional hotels interested in the coral restoration programme will be added. The three selected hotels for the pilot phase are:

1. Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort at Bel Ombre
2. Paradis Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa at Le Morne
3. Trou aux Biches Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa