Ecosystem Restoration Colombia Project #66967

Restore the Varadero Reef Hope Spot in Colombia

by Corales de Paz

Restore the Varadero Reef Hope Spot in Colombia

Project Report | Jun 5, 2025
Reef Star Universe in Varadero: Project Kick-Off

By Andrea Caicedo Gonzalez | CEO

Corales de Paz staff installing Reef Stars

In the last four months, our coral restoration work in Varadero has made exciting progress—both underwater and within the local community.

Engaging the Bocachica Community

We continue to work closely with the Bocachica community to ensure this project is built with and for local people. In February and March, we held two meetings with community members, the local council, and the Fishermen’s Association to present the project, answer questions, and coordinate logistics for our first coral installation. Several residents joined the effort as volunteers and divers.

100 Reef Stars Installed!

With support from Mars Sustainable Solutions and 19 dedicated volunteers, including some from the Bocachica Community, we successfully built and deployed 100 Reef Stars, restoring over 100 square meters of reef with 1,500 coral fragments. This pilot was conducted with the support of CARDIQUE, our regional environmental authority, and backed by DIMAR and the Mayor’s Office of Cartagena, showing strong institutional commitment to marine restoration.

Training Local Experts

Mars Sustainable Solutions visited Cartagena to train our team in the MARRS method. With this support, Corales de Paz is in the process of training to be able to replicate the technique across Colombia and the wider Caribbean, using best practices to restore degraded reef areas with Reef Stars—structures designed to stabilize rubble and promote coral growth.

Backed by Regional Partners

This pilot is part of the Costas Resilientes: Caribe project led by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and funded by the Swedish Postcode Foundation, with technical support from MARS Inc. It aims to demonstrate the viability of MARRS in Colombia and build capacity for future scaling.

Early Results

Just two months after installation:

13% increase in hard coral cover
>95% coral survival
11 coral species growing on the structures
Reef visitors like seahorses, parrotfish, and sea urchins

We’re proving that science, collaboration, and community can revive even the most threatened reefs. Thank you for helping us bring Varadero Reef back to life!

—
The Corales de Paz Team

100 Reef Stars deployed at Varadero Reef

Bocachica locals attaching corals to Reef Stars

Corales de Paz team in MARRS training session

Volunteers attaching corals to Reef Stars

Attachments:

Donors Report (PDF)

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Feb 5, 2025
From Theory to Action: Restoring Varadero Reef

By Andrea Caicedo-Gonzalez | CEO

Corales de Paz and CARDIQUE: baseline monitoring

Dear Supporters,

Thanks to your generous contributions, Corales de Paz has made significant strides in our mission to restore the Varadero Reef using the Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System (MARRS). Over the past three months, we have:

Advanced in our theoretical training to become certified implementers of the MARRS technique, making us pioneers in the Colombian Caribbean.

Conducted a site reconnaissance dive at Varadero Reef, during which we selected the pilot site and carried out the baseline monitoring needed to measure the impact of our restoration efforts.

Finalized the installation date for our project in Varadero: from March 18 to 25, we will deploy 150 Reef Stars with representatives from Mars Sustainable Solutions, CARDIQUE, and volunteers, including the diving industry, community leaders, and members of our EcoRockstars community.

Worked closely with CARDIQUE, the Environmental Authority of Cartagena, to plan our pilot project and define their role, while also presenting the project to the Maritime Authority to secure the necessary permits.

Engaged with officials from the Mayor’s Office of Cartagena to further socialize our pilot project and gain additional local support.

Partnered with skilled local welders in Cartagena, supporting the local economy while ensuring high-quality craftsmanship for our coral restoration structures.

Showcased our project at the COP16 Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia, where our team had a stand in the Blue Zone. This platform allowed us to present our initiative to international representatives and potential partners.

One of the most exciting aspects of our journey has been witnessing the enthusiasm of the local community. Maritime Authority members, environmental lawyers, and boat captains, among others, have shared how being involved in this project has provided them with a newfound appreciation for marine conservation.

Your support makes these milestones possible. We are eager to bring you more updates as we take the next steps in restoring Varadero Reef. Thank you for being a part of this journey!

Best regards,

The Corales de Paz Team

Site selection dive at Varadero Reef

Marking and mapping the site selected with GPS.

Our team representing Corales de Paz at the COP16

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