Coral reef projects
This page lists nature conservation projects that (among other things) protect coral reefs. For an overview of all our nature projects, see our nature web page.
| Corsola, automated coral cultivation for reef restoration, the Caribbean, 2025-2026 |
| Long-term, adaptive management systems to promote resilient reefs and communities, Honduras, 2025-2027 |
| Collaborating with coastal communities in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands to protect marine resources, 2021-2023 |
| Protection and Restoration of the Mesoamerican Reef, Honduras, 2020-2022 |
| REEFolution sustainable use of restored coral reefs, Kenia, 2021-2022 |
| Lubombo Transfrontier Marine Protected Area, Mozambique/Zuid-Afrika, 2010-2012 |
| Carbon footprint reduction and Protection of Critical Reefs, Coral triangle, 2012 |
| Live Reef Fish Trade Transformation, Coral Triangle, 2012 |
| Sustainable Finance for Networks of Marine Protected Areas, Coral Triangle, 2012 |
| Protecting Endangered Turtles, Coral Triangle, 2012 |
| Managing Tuna nurseries and bycatch, Coral Triangle, 2007-2011 |
| Responding to Climate Change through reduction of Tourism and travel footprint, Coral Triangle, 2007-2011 |
| Establishing Lubombo Transfrontier Marine Protected Area, Mozambique/Zuid-Afrika, 2009-2012 |
| €3.000.000 for the Coral Triangle Initiative 2007-2012 |
| Ecosystem Management for the Murciellagos Bay, Philippines, 2007-2009 |
| Sustainable management of the biodiversity in the Lamit Bay, Philippines, 2007-2010 |
| Dungonab Bay and Sanganeb Atoll Marine National Park, Sudan, 2007-2009 |
Project details
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Corsola, automated coral cultivation for reef restoration, the Caribbean, 2025-2026
BRANCH Foundation develops innovative, science-based solutions for restoring coral ecosystems. The foundation set up Project Corsola to focus on large-scale coral cultivation to restore biodiversity and make the restoration process affordable. After a successful pilot project in the Netherlands, the organisation plans to expand its activities in the Caribbean.
Work is underway to establish large-scale nurseries, lowering the cost per coral and further optimising the cultivation process. This approach is industrial in scale but ecologically well considered. The project is strongly data-driven. Data on growth rates, environmental factors, costs and efficiency are used to select coral species that are more resilient to climate stress and to continuously improve the restoration process.
The Turing Foundation is contributing €11,000 towards this project.
See also:
Corsola, geautomatiseerde koraalkweek voor rifherstel, Caribisch gebied
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Long-term, adaptive management systems to promote resilient reefs and communities, Honduras, 2025-2027
The coral reefs of the Bay Islands in Honduras are vital to biodiversity, economic development and cultural heritage. They support thousands of people through fisheries and tourism but face severe threats from overfishing and pollution. The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) collaborates with local coastal communities to protect these reefs, aiming to establish a resilient network of healthy and diverse reefscapes that can adapt to climate change.
This project aims to strengthen official marine protections through improved policy, sustainable financing and effective enforcement of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). For instance, 70% of the marine area around Roatán will be patrolled, and a new no-take zone is being established. Protection of Cordelia Banks, a key area for fish populations, is also being enhanced. Active involvement of local communities is increasing trust between fishers and enforcers, with the goal of ensuring long-term reef conservation.
In addition, the project is addressing wastewater treatment in Coxen Hole, where untreated sewage is currently discharged directly into the sea. This is expected to result in measurable water quality improvements. If successful, it will be expanded to five other communities. With this integrated approach to marine conservation and wastewater management, the project supports coral reef preservation, fish population recovery and improved living conditions for local communities.
The Turing Foundation is contributing €245,000 towards this project (of which €75,000 in 2025).
See also:
Protecting and restoring the Mesoamerican Reef, Honduras
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Collaborating with coastal communities in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands to protect marine resources, 2021-2023
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has been working on nature conservation in the Coral Triangle for 20 years: the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the Solomon Islands. Turing has already given a great deal of support to their work in this region. The WWF wants to stimulate community-led conservation by giving coastal communities the skills, capacity, resources and mandate to effectively protect their marine and coastal areas themselves. The organisation identifies and trains community facilitators, who function as contact people and enable their community to take the lead in conservation. The WWF is assisting fifteen existing community facilitators in PNG in efforts to gain more independence and adding fourteen new community facilitators in the Solomon Islands. Best practice exchanges at a regional level are promoting the adoption of best practices in other areas. This is contributing to the WWF's goal of training 5,000 community facilitators by 2025 to enable coastal communities to protect 'their' nature.
The Turing Foundation is contributing €150,000 towards this project (of which, €50,000 in 2023).
See also:
Collaborating with coastal communities in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands to protect marine resources
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Protection and Restoration of the Mesoamerican Reef, Honduras, 2020-2022
Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) has been working with local coastal communities since 1994 to protect 'their' reefs, creating a network of healthy and diverse reefscapes that will be able to adapt to climate change. The Mesoamerican region (MAR) has the second-largest barrier reef in the world, along the coast of Belize, Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. This project is focused on the Tela Bay coastal area and its thirteen communities. CORAL is helping them strengthen their local management structures, improve monitoring and enforcement of rules, and find alternative sources of income that will reduce dependence on fish. These interventions will combat overfishing, especially of juvenile fish, allowing more fish to live in the reef and keep the coral free of algae.
The Turing Foundation is contributing €66,000 towards this project (of which, €16,000 in 2022).
See also:
Protecting and restoring the Mesoamerican Reef, Honduras
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REEFolution sustainable use of restored coral reefs, Kenia, 2021-2022
In Mkwiro village in the south of Kenya, Wageningen University & Research is collaborating with the active Beach Management Unit and the local community on coral reef restoration. A special foundation was established for this purpose in 2016: the REEFolution Foundation. REEFolution wants to develop Mkwiro village into a regional role model for sustainable coral reef use, which other villages and areas can emulate, restoring and protecting a larger coastal area. As well as restoration, REEFolution and the local community are developing livelihoods which contribute to sustainable use of the reef. A 200-metre tourist reef is being constructed so that people can learn about marine life and pay for a diving experience but stay away from the natural reef. A processing machine is also being purchased which will be used to process seaweed into products such as soap and skin creams.
The Turing Foundation is contributing €40,000 towards this project (of which, €10,000 in 2022).
See also:
Mkwiro village, rolmodel voor duurzaam gebruik van hersteld koraalrif
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Lubombo Transfrontier Marine Protected Area, Mozambique/Zuid-Afrika, 2010-2012
The Peace Parks Foundation dedicates itself to nature reserves located at countries'
border regions, and strives for sustainable economic development, biodiversity, peace and
stability in those regions. Ultimate responsibility for the parks lies with the respective countries.
The Lubombo Transfrontier Park is located at the border of Mozambique and South Africa's coastal
region. It holds a wealth of coral reefs, wetlands, whales and tortoises and as a result,
it has great touristic potential.
On July 14, 2009, thanks to the efforts of the Peace Parks Foundation and the Turing Foundation's
contribution, Lubombo became the very first cross-border Marine Protected Area confirmed by
both Mozambique and South Africa governments. The park's touristic development is currently being worked on.
It is important to act fast, so the park can be realized keeping in mind both sustainability
and respect for nature. On top of that, the sea area needs to be protected from poachers and
large fish trawlers. There are currently only 800 people living in the area,
and they are entirely dependent on the sea. They will be trained in sustainable fishing methods,
coastal protection and tourism.
The Turing Foundation contributes € 625,000 (€ 75,000 of which in 2012)
to the realization and preservation of this very first African Transfrontier Marine Protected Area.
See also:
17 May 2011: Official opening of the new Mozambique headquarters, financed by the Turing Foundation, with (among others, from left to right) Milou Halbesma (Turing), Mr. Fernando Sumbana (Minister for Tourism), Governor Maria Jonas, Werner Myburgh (CEO Peace Parks) and Miguel Gonsalvez (sea park manager).
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Carbon footprint reduction and Protection of Critical Reefs, Coral triangle, 2012
We're approaching the final phase of our support of the Coral Triangle Initiative through the World Wide Fund for Nature. One of the final projects concerns the CO2-reduction and preservation of critical coral reefs. Within the Coral Triangle, the creation of
Marine Protected Areas is not developing fast enough for the urgent need for breeding areas for fish and other life forms inhabiting and surrounding the coral reefs. Especially 'no-take zones', areas in which a total fishing ban is in effect, are a long time coming, although nature-preservation results and fishermen's fish stock in neighbouring areas are spectacular. It's why we've decided to do an extra investment for the project's final phase.
In total, the Turing Foundation will be donating € 300,000 to this initiative.
See also:
Bleached Coral Reefs, Coral Triangle
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Live Reef Fish Trade Transformation, Coral Triangle, 2012
This
World Wildlife Federation
programme intends to achieve a recovery of the diverse fish population in the
Coral Triangle,
and a reduction of destructive fishing methods (such as dynamite fishing).
One of the actions is the establishment of a
Trade Association in the fishing industry (especially in Hong Kong)
to promote sensible trade in the species of fish concerned.
Simultaneously, plans will be made to encourage consumers to buy only fish that has been MSC certified.
The Turing Foundation will contribute € 300,000
to the programme, which will run until 2012.
See also:
Analysis of Live Reef Fish Trade routes in the Coral Triangle
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Sustainable Finance for Networks of Marine Protected Areas, Coral Triangle, 2012
The World Wildlife Federation has
established a foundation for the identification and management of
protected marine areas in the
Coral Triangle,
which consist of 50,000 km2 of coral reefs, 50,000 km2 of mangrove forests,
and breeding grounds and migration routes of important fish species in 500,000 km2 of open water.
The foundation helps to bridge budget gaps, until the local governments have
their financial situations in order.
The foundation is also able to offer immediate help should there be urgent needs in the protected areas.
The Turing Foundation contributes € 600,000 to this foundation.
See also:
A 1.5 metre Napoleon fish. These special coral fish are captured alive and then kept in the aquaria of very chic restaurants. Sometimes ten thousand square metres of coral are poisoned by cyanide to stun just one fish, after which the divers haul the stunned animal up between the coral into a mobile aquarium.
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Protecting Endangered Turtles, Coral Triangle, 2012
Six out of the seven species of sea turtles we have on this earth live in the
Coral Triangle.
The animals are threatened most by the accidental bycatch of fishermen and by the
loss of breeding habitat along the coasts.
These majestic animals do not only play a principle role in the tourist industry;
they also have an important symbolic meaning in initiatives and fundraising related
to the protection of the Coral Triangle.
The main purpose of this
World Wildlife Federation
project is to make certain that half of all migration routes,
feeding areas and breeding habitats of sea turtles have a protected status by 2011.
Moreover, WWF intends to halve the fishery bycatch of turtles,
for example by distributing more than 300,000 circle hooks among
the fisher fleet for the prevention of bycatch.
The Turing Foundation will contribute € 250,000 to this project.
See also:
Protecting Endangered Turtles
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Managing Tuna nurseries and bycatch, Coral Triangle, 2007-2011
Tuna fishing yields food and income for tens of millions of people living in the
Coral Triangle.
Besides, tuna plays a crucial role in the ecology of the coral reefs.
The governments in the Coral Triangle acknowledge that their fishing areas can
be continuous sources of food and income, as long as they are managed in the right way.
Therefore, they have laid down laws for the sustainable use of these areas.
However, structural overfishing has been taking place during the past twenty years.
The World Wildlife Federation,
together with the business community and the government,
will design strategies and solutions
to prevent the loss of tuna production in the Coral Triangle.
The Turing Foundation will donate € 650,000 to this initiative, which will run until 2011.
See also:
Managing Tuna nurseries and bycatch
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Responding to Climate Change through reduction of Tourism and travel footprint, Coral Triangle, 2007-2011
Global warming is bad for coral reefs - the corals will bleach,
lose all their colour and eventually die.
This is at the expense of marine life; it will limit fishing
opportunities and reduce opportunities for tourism (which is an
important source of income and an important stimulus for the protection of the corals).
The World Wildlife Federation believes
it is possible to help the coral reefs
in the Coral Triangle
by avoiding any further negative impact
of climate change, by reducing other disturbing
effects on their health (such as polluting industries, tourism and fishing).
The Turing Foundation will contribute € 600,000 to this
initiative, which will run until 2011.
See also:
Responding to Climate Change through reduction of Tourism and travel footprint
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Establishing Lubombo Transfrontier Marine Protected Area, Mozambique/Zuid-Afrika, 2009-2012
The Peace Parks Foundation is devoted to protecting those natural areas that are located across the borders between countries. The foundation's main goal is to establish sustainable economic development, biodiversity, peace and stability in the region surrounding the park. The final responsibility for the parks remains with the countries.
The Lubombo Transfrontier Park is located by the coast and on the borderline of Mozambique and South Africa. It offers a wealth of coral reefs, wetlands, whales and tortoises, which give it great tourist potential. Now that the situation in Mozambique seems to become more stable, tourist development is conceivable again - even more so given the fact that the park is located between Mozambique's capital, Maputo and the economic powerhouse of South Africa, Gauteng. It is important that prompt action is taken, so that a sustainable park can be established, with respect for nature. Apart from that, the marine area must be protected against threats such as poachers and large fish trailers.
The area is home to no more than 800 people, who fully depend on the sea for their daily sustenance. They will be trained in sustainable fishing practices, coast guarding and tourism.
In the coming four years, the Turing Foundation donates € 625,000 to the establishment and protection of the first African 'Transfrontier Marine Protected Area'.
See also:
The Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation and resource Area - Mozambique
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€3.000.000 for the Coral Triangle Initiative 2007-2012
No place on earth has such great biodiversity as the Coral Triangle. The triangle covers almost 6,000,000 km2 and stretches out as far as Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, East Timor and Brunei Darussalam. The triangle is a true nursery of the sea, being the home of 75% of all coral species and of more than 3,000 different fish species.
The area is seriously threatened by a range of factors, such as overfishing, destructive fishing (for example by the use of dynamite and cyanide), global warming and pollution.
Here, the World Wildlife Federation is setting up one of its largest and most ambitious projects ever, which aims to introduce a new, long term model for the sustainable management of this wildlife area - before the combination of threatening factors will have left a permanent mark on it, and on the millions of households that depend on it.
The project requires a whole range of simultaneous initiatives that address the various threats. If organised in the proper way, the initiatives will reinforce each other. A specially formed Coral Triangle Team will coordinate the entire project, and will in the coming years revise the strategy if necessary - possibly by developing new initiatives.
The eventual purpose of this project is to save the nurseries of the Coral Triangle, which are of vital importance to the conservation of a healthy ecosystem in the oceans and along the coasts of the Coral Triangle.
 koraaldriehoek320.gif style="max-WIDTH:320px; max-HEIGHT:320px; width:100%;" BORDER=0 ALT="The Coral Triangle">
In the six years to come, the Turing Foundation contributes € 3,000,000 in total to the six sub-initiatives that are part of the first phase of the programme. These six initiatives are described below.
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1. Sustainable Finance for Networks of Marine Protected Areas
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A new foundation will be established for the identification and management of protected marine areas in the Coral Triangle, which consist of 50,000 km2 of coral reefs, 50,000 km2 of mangrove forests, and breeding grounds and migration routes of important fish species in 500,000 km2 of open water.
The foundation helps to bridge budget gaps, until the local governments have their financial situations in order. The foundation is also able to offer immediate help should there be urgent needs in the protected areas.
The Turing Foundation will contribute € 600,000 to this foundation.
A 1.5 metre Napoleon fish. These special coral fish are captured alive and then kept in the aquaria of very chic restaurants. Sometimes ten thousand square metres of coral are poisoned by cyanide to stun just one fish, after which the divers haul the stunned animal up between the coral into a mobile aquarium.
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2. Managing Tuna nurseries and bycatch
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Tuna fishing yields food and income for tens of millions of people living in the Coral Triangle. Besides, tuna plays a crucial role in the ecology of the coral reefs.
The governments in the Coral Triangle acknowledge that their fishing areas can be continuous sources of food and income, as long as they are managed in the right way. Therefore, they have laid down laws for the sustainable use of these areas. However, structural overfishing has been taking place during the past twenty years.
Together with the business community and the government strategies and solutions will have to be designed to prevent the loss of tuna production in the Coral Triangle. The Turing Foundation will donate € 650,000 to this sub-initiative, which will run until 2010.
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3. Live Reef Fish Trade Transformation
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This programme intends to achieve a recovery of the diverse fish population in the Coral Triangle, and a reduction of destructive fishing methods (such as dynamite fishing). One of the actions is the establishment of a Trade Association in the fishing industry (especially in Hong Kong) to promote sensible trade in the species of fish concerned. Simultaneously, plans will be made to encourage consumers to buy only fish that has been MSC certified.
The Turing Foundation will contribute € 300,000 to the LRFTT-programme, which will run until 2010.
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4. Protecting Endangered Turtles
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Six out of the seven species of sea turtles we have on this earth live in the Coral Triangle. The animals are threatened most by the accidental bycatch of fishermen and by the loss of breeding habitat along the coasts. These majestic animals do not only play a principle role in the tourist industry; they also have an important symbolic meaning in initiatives and fundraising related to the protection of the Coral Triangle.
The main purpose of this sub-project is to make certain that half of all migration routes, feeding areas and breeding habitats of sea turtles have a protected status by 2010. Moreover, WWF intends to halve the fishery bycatch of turtles, for example by distributing more than 300,000 circle hooks among the fisher fleet for the prevention of bycatch.
The Turing Foundation will contribute € 250,000 to this sub-project.
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5. Responding to Climate Change through reduction of Tourism and travel footprint
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Global warming is bad for coral reefs - the corals will bleach, lose all their colour and eventually die. This is at the expense of marine life; it will limit fishing opportunities and reduce opportunities for tourism (which is an important source of income and an important stimulus for the protection of the corals).
It is possible to help the coral reefs by avoiding any further negative impact of climate change, by reducing other disturbing effects on their health (such as polluting industries, tourism and fishing).
The Turing Foundation will contribute € 600,000 to this sub-initiative, which will run until 2010.
The Coral Triangle Initiative is a dynamic programme. It can be expected that extra activities are needed in the years to come in order to guarantee the success of the total project. Extra budget is already being made available for such future activities.
The Turing Foundation subscribes to this realistic viewpoint and commits € 600,000 support to these currently unnamed sub-projects.
See also:
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Ecosystem Management for the Murciellagos Bay, Philippines, 2007-2009
Murciellagos Bay is a breeding ground of important and diverse ecosystems. The bay covers 8,000 hectares and is home to rare and endangered fish, shellfish and sea turtle species. The area is threatened by pollution, overfishing and destructive fishing. The Philippine organisation PARTS (Partner for Rural & Technical Service) tries to have part of the coral reefs, mangrove forests and sea grass beds identified as Marine Protected Areas, so as to stop illegal fishing practices and encourage the recovery of the ecosystem and fish stock. The ambition is to achieve a sustainable balance between nature conservation and the local economy, for instance by strengthening the fishing organisations in most of the 24 local fishing villages, and by investing in nature education for the local community.
The Turing Foundation and IUCN Nederland will together contribute the sum of € 90,000 to this project, which runs until June 2009.
See also:
Fishing village, Murciellagos Bay, The Philippines
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Dungonab Bay and Sanganeb Atoll Marine National Park, Sudan, 2007-2009
African Parks helps African governments in managing, conserving and restoring seven National Parks. The foundation raises funds during the initial phase (sometimes lasting decades), sets up a financially sustainable park management and supports the economically sustainable development of the communities in and around the parks.
Sanganeb Atoll Marine National Park is the only Atoll in the Red Sea, located approximately 23 kilometres off the coast, near Port Sudan. Relatively unspoiled coral reefs can be found here, including the fauna associated with them. The park covers roughly 25 km2 (and 250 km2 including the buffer zone surrounding it). The area has been nominated twice to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Dungonab Bay National Park, located on the West coast of the Red Sea, consists of 800 km2 of coast, coral reefs and islands. The park offers a great diversity of habitats and animal species, amongst which important endangered species such as the Dugong. Two villages (one of which is Dungonab) are located within the park boundaries. The commitment of the population and their sustainable economic development therefore form a very important part of the management plan for the park.
During the coming five years, the Turing Foundation contributes € 1,000,000 to the protection and establishment of a sustainable management of these two national parks.
News update October 2008:
Unfortunately African Parks Network has had to withdraw from Dungonab and Sanganeb Marine Parks in Sudan as a result of the lapsing of their initital three-year agreement.
The Turing Foundation contribution of € 100.000 in 2007 to the Parks in Sudan was largely invested in two important components of the project, namely infrastructure and capacity building. The field station was built near Mohammed Qol and will hopefully continue to be used for park management like field monitoring by the Sudanese authorities. Also the Turing Foundation invested in capacity building of staff. Some 18 rangers received training in car mechanics, welding techniques and electricity, first aid and fire fighting skills. Others received SCUBA training. These young staff members are now much better prepared for their future and hopefully they will be used in a manner that benefits their training.
The principal lesson learnt for African Parks is that it has reinforced their own approach in that they will not take on any future project unless Government commits to a full, long term mandate up front that allows them to manage the park.
The Turing Foundation understands and respects the withdrawal, and wishes to thank African Parks for the good cooperation and excellent reports we received during the project. Consequently the Turing Foundation withdraws its commitment of the remaining € 900.000, which was dependant on the conslusion of a new, long term agreement with the Governement of Sudan.
The Turing Foundation will continue to invest in other marineprojects to protect and sustain nurseries of the sea around the world. It is to be hoped that the numerous fish and very important coral reefs in the marine parks in Sudan can be preserved in the near future.
See also:
Dungonab Bay Marine National Park
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