McLeod, et-al., 2019

This report summarises the findings of an initial scoping study which aimed to identify common interests, facilitate global and regional collaborations, and help identify opportunities for co-investment in research and development. This study is a starting point for a wider global review and conversation into how active interventions should fit within coral reef management in a changing world. This interim report recommends: • Strong action on climate change and other stressors: Coral restoration should not be viewed as a replacement for reducing local, regional and global stressors acting on reefs. • Invest in research and development: Substantial research and development is required to scale up and improve all facets of restoration and adaptation. • Promote knowledge-sharing and collaboration: There would be great benefit in global cooperation, collaboration and knowledge-sharing to ensure efficient use of resources. • Develop best practice guidelines: Science-based guidance for restoration practitioners is critically needed, and the UNEP and collaborating organisations have committed to facilitating the production of guidelines in the near future. • Develop policy and plans: New or refined policy and plans relevant to restoration and adaptation are needed. • Promote ‘blue restoration’: the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration represents an opportunity to promote ‘blue restoration’ including restoring coral reefs. Further, the goal of large-scale restoration, to sequester carbon and reduce anthropogenic climate change, could help mitigate the main threat to coral reefs.