Saving the world’s coral reefs requires a multi-pronged approach. Immediate and aggressive action on climate change is paramount for the long-term survival of reefs. However, carbon already released into the atmosphere will continue to warm ocean waters to a level inhospitable to corals for decades to come. Thus, direct and informed interventions at the local level are needed to keep reef ecosystems from completely collapsing in the next few decades.
Threats such as overfishing and pollution must be managed locally, while simultaneously repopulating target reefs with resilient, genetically-diverse, and reproductively-viable corals. Active and targeted coral repopulation using novel ecological interventions will buy tropical reefs time until ocean temperatures return to levels at which reefs can thrive, if climate change is addressed.
Reef Futures 2018 brings together experts from around the world to share the latest science and techniques for coral reef restoration while kicking off a global effort to dramatically scale-up the impact and reach of restoration as a major tool for coral reef conservation and management. We strive for robust international participation and cross-fertilization of disciplines to develop new ideas. We encourage abstract submissions from individuals with expertise in engineering disciplines, and experience with other ecosystems in peril, who can help the coral community develop solutions. Scholarships and reduced registration rates are available to encourage participation from developing nations.
The five major themes of the symposium conference are:
2018 is International Year of the Reef!
2018 has been designated as the third International Year of the Reef (IYOR) by the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI). This year-long celebration is a great opportunity to come together and strengthen awareness on the plight of coral reefs as well as initiate conservation and collaboration efforts. Reef Futures 2018 seeks to build upon the spirit of IYOR and incorporate opportunities to build the coral restoration community.
Sign up for the IYOR newsletter and stay up to date on events and national #IYOR launches from around the world.
