E. D. Gomez, University of the Philippines (GEF-WB Coral Reef Targeted Research Program) Presentation given during the 5th GEF Biennial International Waters Conference in Cairns, Australia during the participant-led workshop on Coral Reef restoration.

1. Coral reef restoration involving local
communities in the Philippines
E. D. Gomez, Ph.D.
Coordinator, Southeast Asia Center of Excellence
GEF-WB Coral Reef Targeted Research Program
Professor Emeritus, The Marine Science Institute
University of the Philippines

2. How do we improve reef resilience?
Reduce fishing effort
Eliminate destructive fishing
Reduce coastal pollution
Establish marine protected areas
(MPAs)
Initiate Restoration/Rehabilitation of
reefs

3. Restoration strategy used
in Bolinao, Philippines
used a well-studied and highly successful
transplant species: Porites cylindrica
targeted dead bommies of this species
used sustainable transplant material
 “corals of opportunity”
 fragments from experimental transplants (research)
involved the stakeholders (local community)
used low-cost technology
repeated incrementally as materials became
available

4. Sources of sustainable transplant materials
“Corals of opportunity”
• coral fragments broken off intact colonies by natural events or
accidents
• found loose on the reef and in danger of burial or abrasion or
death
Transplant material from previous
experimental transplants used in research
• taken from 2.5-year old transplants from earlier experiments
• <50% of each colony (N.B. Not from natural population, where
the best practice is to use <10% of each donor colony)

5. Restoration strategy
step-wise increments

6. involve the local
community
give lectures on coral
biology and ecology
provide coral
transplantation training
conduct actual
transplantation
Community-based
restoration
Local divers in action

7. April 2008
March 2009
1st
transplantation (April 2008)
…one year later

8. Sep 2008
Mar 2009
2nd transplantation (September 2008)

9. Results of the 2nd
transplantation (September 2008),
as an example
51 37
82 66
129 122
200 114
64 79
200 140
69
83
200
122
53 56
36 22 34
10 19 22
97 89 97
40 31 32
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100% September
October
December
March
September
October
December
March
September
October
December
March
Site A Site B Site C
Mean%ofTransplants
self-attached unattached dead unaccounted

10. Training for setting up nursery rescue
stations for corals of opportunity for future
use
set up coral “rescue stations” inside MPAs
use “corals of opportunity”
use low-cost materials

11. April 3, 2008 March 19, 2009 September 25, 2009
A
B
T=0 T=11 m T=17 m
Community-based coral transplantation

12. Species other than coral for restocking
Purpose
Priorities
Costs
Benefits
Examples

13. Collaborator deploying juveniles
for grow out in Samal,Davao.
Giant clam re-stocking
CORAL TRANSPLANTATION AND GIANT CLAM
RESTOCKING AT THE HUNDRED ISLANDS
NATIONAL PARK, PHILIPPINES - PTA Project
2000-2002 Source: UPMSI Giant Clam Laboratory

14. • Supplemental source of
livelihood for fishers
• Heightens local environ-
mental awareness
• Fosters community
participation/ cooperation
• Develops local resources
management capabilities
Community-based sea urchin grow-out culture
Viable resource management
tool together with
reseeding of protected areas
Source: UPMSI Marine Invertebrates Laboratory

15. Terima
kasih!
GEF-Restoration and
Remediation Working
Group
European Union, 6th
Framework Project
(Number 510657)
REEFRES: Developing
ubiquitous practices for
restoration of Indo-Pacific
reefs
Marine Environment and
Resources Foundation,
Inc., Philippines