Coral Gardening Project: Restoring Reef Health and Marine Biodiversity

The JBLFMU Coral Gardening Project, initiated in 2016, is a collaborative effort with the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) and technical support from Guimaras Environment and Natural Resources Office, Global Affairs Canada, and the Municipality of Nueva Valencia. The project aims to restore and enhance coral reef health, biodiversity, and resilience in the Igang Bay Marine Sanctuary (IBMS). Five coral nursery beds were established, starting with the collection of small fragments of live coral, or Corals of Opportunity (COP), which were attached to artificial structures to grow new colonies. Over time, these corals are transplanted to degraded reef areas to accelerate recovery. Although the transplantation experiment on two beds was unsuccessful, the remaining three nursery beds continue to thrive, demonstrating successful coral growth and habitat restoration. This initiative underscores JBLFMU CES’s commitment to marine conservation, ecosystem resilience, and multi-stakeholder collaboration, contributing directly to Sustainable Development Goals 14, 13, and 17.