As part of our reef resilience to climate change program, CORAL provided a microgrant to the Dominican Republic's Ruben Torres to rehabilitate and transplant coral fragments into artificial reefs or on damaged areas, with the hopes of more rapidly restoring the ecosystem, ensuring long-term viability of the established marine protected area, and engaging the local community in reef preservation efforts.

Images from the Field

Figures 1a-b. Coral nurseries were built with metal wire frames. Once built, the frames were placed in sandy bottom areas of La Caleta MPA, and concrete blocks were used to secure them in place. 

 

Figures 2a-b. Acropora cervicornis (a) and Acropora palmatta (b) fragments were collected from existing nurseries and natural reefs, respectively, and placed in the new coral nurseries in La Caleta MPA. 

 

Figures 3a-b. Acropora cervicornis (a) and Acropora palmatta (b) fragments were collected from existing nurseries and natural reefs, respectively, and placed in coral nurseries in Las Terrenas.

 

Figures 4a-c. Before and after comparisons of coral fragments grown in La Caleta MPA nurseries show strong growth.

 

Figures 5a-c. Before and after comparisons of coral fragments grown in Las Terrenas nurseries show strong growth.

 

Figures 6a-b. Participants enjoyed classroom lectures and hands-on activities during the coral reef conservation, resilience, and nursery techniques workshop conducted in Punta Cana, April 13th to 15th, 2012. 

 

Figure 7. Participants pose for a group picture during the coral reef conservation, resilience, and nursery techniques workshop conducted in Punta Cana, April 13th to 15th, 2012.

All photos by Rubén Torres

Progress and Outcomes

  • Coral fragments in the two locations have been growing well, with 80-95% survival rates.
  • Twelve volunteers and Reef Check Dominican Republic staff were trained.
  • As an extra activity, a group of students from Carol Morgan High School learned about coral nurseries during an educational lecture by RCDR. The group was motivated to develop an “Adopt a Coral Program” (under development), which will offer the opportunity to the general public to adopt coral fragments from the nurseries in support of this long-term initiative.