Climate Action Dominican Republic Project #10709

Coral Restoration in the Dominican Republic

by Reef Check Dominican Republic

Project Report | Nov 13, 2013
Coral Reef Restoration July-October 2013 Report

By Ruben Torres | Project Leader

During this period (August to October 2013), a total of US$430 were received via the Global Giving website from a recurring donor, many thanks for the continued support, and special thanks to recurring donors. All your donations and giving this coral species a chance.

Two monitoring trips were conducted in La Caleta Marine Park nursery to check on the conditions of coral fragments collected so far. During the summer months, when water gets warmer, coral colonies tend to bleach, or loose the symbiotic microscopic algae that live within the coral tissue (known as zooxantellae). When this happens, coral turns to look white, given that corals are transparent organisms, and the algae is that provides color to coral, but also about 90% of the corals diet via photosynthesis. So when they turn white (bleach), is also means that they can starve to death if water temperature does not come down quickly and they get the algae back. One colony in La Caleta coral nursery is starting to look pale, which is the initial sign of bleaching, we will keep an eye on this one, there is not much what we can do but reverse climate change.

During this period we also sign an agreement with Tropigas Foundation, from propane Distribution Company that wants to help save this planet and pitch in with local conservation efforts. These funds will be used to establish four new coral nurseries in different locations of DR, this will help us to have replicate nurseries and distribute any chance of damage due to storms etc (if we loose the entire coral nursery in la caleta, we would have replicate colonies in another undamaged site). The first nursery was built and installed in Palmar de Ocoa, a calm bay south west of Bani. We were able to install 2 metal frames and 2 rope nurseries, with over 80 coral fragments replicates from several locations of DR.

Also, we signed an agreement with ERM Foundation (erm.com) to develop a new type of structure to build artificial reefs, combining tools to control coastal erosion, and to develop transplant sites for cultivated corals.

See pictures from this reporting period.

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