Last updated: September 2024
The "Un Millón de Corales por Colombia" project is a national initiative aimed at the restoration and conservation of coral reefs across Colombia. Initiated in 2021, this ambitious project seeks to rehabilitate 200 hectares of coral reef by planting one million coral fragments across seven departments in Colombia, spanning both the Caribbean and Pacific regions (ref 1,2). It was developed as a response to the significant degradation of coral reefs caused by climate change, coastal development, overfishing, and pollution. These factors have led to the loss of about 80% of coral reefs in the Caribbean region. The initiative, led by the Colombian government in partnership with organizations such as Conservación Internacional, Parques Nacionales Naturales, Corales de Paz, and several regional environmental authorities, focuses on restoring this vital ecosystem (ref 2). The project encompasses constructing and maintaining coral nurseries and training local community members, including fishermen, as "coral gardeners." These gardeners are taught scientifically proven coral restoration techniques, including microfragmentation and larval rearing methods. A key aspect of the project involves continuous education and involvement of the community and stakeholders to ensure long-term sustainability (ref 4, 5). In Cartagena, the project plays a vital role in the restoration and conservation of coral reefs in this region, which is a key site for the initiative (ref 4).
picture of restoration activities
https://www.eltiempo.com/vida/medio-ambiente/asi-logro-colombia-marcar-un-hito-global-por-la-restauracion-de-los-oceanos-que-ahora-otros-paises-quieren-replicar-3365904
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Coastlines
- Other
Key challenges
- Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
- Coastal protection / hazard mitigation
- Marine and coastal biodiversity protection
- Marine and coastal research and/or education
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- Coastal hazards (e.g. erosion, flooding)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Poor water quality
- Resource Scarcity and Competition
- Over-exploitation of natural resources (water resources, overgrazing, fisheries, mangroves, fore products)
Key priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)
Focus
Coastal landscape management or protection, Coral reef restoration, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs
Project objectives
- To restore 200 hectares of coral reefs by planting one million coral fragments. (ref 1,2,4)
- To enhance the biodiversity and health of marine ecosystems. (ref 1,2,4)
- To involve local communities actively in coral reef restoration, creating sustainable economic opportunities, through environmental stewardship and conservation jobs (ref 1,2,4)
- Contribution to the national goal of coral restoration with 1,000,000 cultivated fragments in approximately 203 nurseries. (ref 3)
- Involvement of 60 coral gardeners in areas of the Caribbean and Pacific regions of Colombia. (ref 3).
Implementation activities
- With the participation of environmental authorities, stakeholders, and local communities, the workshop "Un Millón de Corales por Colombia was organised: Defining Actions for the Ecological Restoration of Coral Reefs" was held in Cartagena de Indias (ref 4).
- The coral gardeners learned a technique called fragmentation and microfragmentation. Once the fragments are ready, they are transplanted to reef areas in need of restoration. After cultivation, the gardeners transported the fragments to key locations, most of which are within protected areas among other maritime-continental and insular areas in the country. In addition, over 150 people have been trained and now have the knowledge to replicate this large-scale and unprecedented initiative (ref 3)
- An intensive eleven-day workshop was conducted in June 2022, during which Ecomares, with the support of National Parks, Conservation International, CEINER, and Diving Planet, set up three tables with over 13,500 micro-fragments of eight reef-building species. Since then, Ecomares has carried out monthly maintenance and monitoring of these nurseries (ref 5). A significant aspect of the project is the involvement of local communities and their training in coral restoration techniques. "More than 150 people have been trained and now have the knowledge to replicate this large-scale and unprecedented initiative" (ref 3).
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Coastal communities
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Coastal-dependent communities (e.g. small-scale fishers, coastal farmers, and indigenous peoples)
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Taskforce groups
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Citizen monitoring and review
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The National Government, led by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, seeks to promote the restoration and conservation of these ecosystems in our country. To this end, an alliance has been formed with the foundation Conservation International (ref 2).
The Colombian government, Conservation International (CI), National Natural Parks, Conservation International Colombia, Corales de Paz, the Institute of Marine and Coastal Research (Invemar), the Malpelo Foundation, the Regional Autonomous Corporations, local NGOs, artisanal fishing organizations, and academia launched the "One Million Corals for Colombia" initiative in 2021 (ref 1).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
("Un Millón de Corales por Colombia" is a national strategy.)
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
Capacity-building projects, Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships), City network or regional partnerships focused on climate change, sustainability, GI or NBS in the city
Financing
Total cost
€500,000 - €2,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Expected enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Expected increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased protection of threatened species
- Expected increased protection of threatened species
Economic impacts
- Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- Achieved increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Achieved increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
Yes
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Conservación Internacional Colombia (n.d.). Un Millón de Corales por Colombia. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
2.
BancO2 (2023). Un millón de corales por Colombia.. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
3.
El Tiempo (2024). Un millón de corales: así logró Colombia marcar un hito global por la restauración de los océanos, que ahora otros países quieren replicar. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible (2021). Un Millón de Corales por Colombia, más cerca de la comunidad. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
5.
La Fundación para la Investigación y Conservación Biológica Marina ECOMARES (2023). Proyecto Un Millón de Corales por Colombia. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
6.
UN News (2022). Un millón de corales por Colombia, la mayor restauración de arrecifes oceánicos de América. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Latam Green (2022). Siembran más de 110 mil fragmentos de coral en Colombia. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible (2023). Corales son trasplantados para restaurar arrecifes en Isla Grande. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Cartagena Como Vamos (2022). Informe de Calidad de Vida 2022 Baru y tierra bomba. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
picture of restoration activities
https://ecomares.org/quienes-somos/
Divers setting up a coral nursery on Isla Tesoro, in Colombia's Corales del Rosario National Park.
https://news.un.org/es/story/2022/06/1510982
picture of restoration activities
https://banco2.com/project/un-millon-de-corales-por-colombia/
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.