RESCQ – Restoration Ecosystem Services and Coral Reef Quality

Coral reefs are among the most threatened ecosystems on earth. At the same time they are among the most diverse ecosystems providing income to millions of people.

Coral reef restoration with resilient species

In this project, coral fragments are grown and used for restoring damaged reefs. Restoration efforts will be accompanied by monitoring of resilience using state-of-the-art genomic techniques. Raising and outplanting new coral colonies of fast growing and relatively robust coral species will allow new coral reef habitat to be created. In this manner the project will provide new living space for fish and invertebrates and provide sustainable income for local communities.

Project RESCQ

This 3 years project (RESCQ: Restoration of Ecosystem Services and Coral Reef Quality) is funded by the European Union through the BEST 2.0 Programme, with a co-funding from the the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, for a total budget of 400.000 euros. Coral nurseries will be set up on Saba, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius and the Turks and Caicos Islands.