– Alice Grainger, communications director Coral Restoration Foundation
populations of these endangered species are on the brink of extinction in Florida. In the last 15 years, the Tavernier nonprofit has rehomed more than 170,000 staghorn, elkhorn and bouldering corals on Florida’s Coral Reef, where many are now spawning. On these restoration sites, coral coverage has increased dramatically in recent years; as of the end of 2021, Coral Restoration Foundation™ reported that they had restored a total of over 25,000 square meters of reef in Florida. And the work continues every day. Coral is important to the overall ecosystem, as other underwater species live in and among reefs. And strong reefs defend us against wave and storm surges. Healthy mangrove systems provide similar benefits. While reef degradation is not limited to Florida, it is estimated that less than two percent of staghorn and elkhorn coral along Florida’s Coral Reef remains from
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just the 1970s, according to researchers. At the current rate of loss, researchers insist, shallow water reefs could functionally vanish by 2100. “Extinct in the Wild” is the designation not that far off for such critters should we kick the can down the road, says Alice Grainger, communications director for Coral Restoration Foundation™. “But there is hope,” Grainger says. “We just need more people to get onboard.” Which is easy. Coral Restoration Foundation™, for example, has dive programs, volunteer projects, internships, citizen science programs, sponsorships and donation opportunities. “In the history of our species, we have never experienced the loss of an entire ecosystem. Coral reefs are a critical component of our planet’s lifesupport system, the consequences of losing them would be unimaginable for all life on Earth. We simply can’t afford not to act,” says Grainger, a world traveler and marine conservation professional. FCM
THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY ZACH RANSOM/CORAL RESTORATION FOUNDATION™; OPPOSITE PAGE: TOP AND MIDDLE RIGHT PHOTOS BY ALEXANDER NEUFELD/CORAL RESTORATION FOUNDATION™; LARGER MIDDLE LEFT PHOTO BY SARA NILSSON/CORAL RESTORATION FOUNDATION™; OTHER PHOTOS BY ZACH RANSOM/CORAL RESTORATION FOUNDATION™
There is hope. We'd love for (people) to get onboard.
The foundation offers dive programs, volunteer projects, internships, citizen science programs, sponsorships and donation opportunities.
