Latest Updates

 

Updates - Oct 2024

  • This year is demonstrating the positive impact of reef restoration in Costa Rica. Thanks to cooler ocean temperatures earlier in 2024, we have cultivated over 1,000 new coral fragments in our Pacific and Southern Caribbean nurseries. These efforts are critical for the recovery of affected areas and for strengthening the resilience of local reefs. While there are concerns about rising ocean temperatures, our team is prepared to move nurseries to cooler depths if necessary. Track the latest on ocean temperatures here.

  • For the second consecutive year, we documented the spawning of the endangered Acropora palmata (Elkhorn coral) near Cahuita National Park. This milestone is especially significant given the severity of the global coral bleaching event last year (learn more here). International scientists are following this event closely, as coral spawning events are essential for the natural recovery of reefs. Don’t miss our Instagram post on this event!

  • We launched a new project this year, "Enhancing Adaptive Capacities of Coral Gardeners in Reef-Dependent Communities," thanks to support from IKI Small Grants. So far, we have held six workshops in Puerto Jiménez and Cahuita to promote sustainable tourism based on reef restoration and to forge partnerships between organizations and local agriculture businesses to reduce the negative impacts on marine ecosystems.

  • We are thrilled to announce that Coralmania is back on November 29-30! Stay tuned for more event details, and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest updates.

Actualización - Oct 2024

  • Este 2024 ha sido un año de gran avance para la restauración de arrecifes en Costa Rica. Gracias al enfriamiento de las temperaturas del océano a principios de este año, hemos cultivado más de 1,000 nuevos fragmentos de coral en nuestros viveros, tanto en el Pacífico como en el Caribe Sur. Estos esfuerzos son clave para la recuperación de áreas afectadas y el fortalecimiento de la resiliencia de los arrecifes locales. A pesar de las preocupaciones sobre el futuro de las temperaturas del océano, contamos con el conocimiento y capacidades para trasladar nuestros viveros a más profundidades buscando temperaturas más frías de ser necesario. Aquí puede darle seguimiento a las temperaturas del océano.

  • Por segundo año consecutivo, hemos documentado el desove del coral en peligro de extinción Acropora palmata (coral cuerno de alce) en el sur del Parque Nacional Cahuita. Este acontecimiento es crucial, especialmente tras el cuarto evento de blanqueamiento masivo que afectó los corales el año pasado (ver más aquí). Científicos internacionales han mostrado gran interés en este evento, ya que abre la posibilidad de trabajar en reproducción sexual asistida de coral en el Caribe. ¡No se pierda nuestra publicación en Instagram!

  • Este año empezamos a trabajar en el proyecto “Mejorando las capacidades adaptativas de los jardineros de coral en comunidades dependientes de arrecifes” gracias a IKI Small Grants, hemos realizado 6 talleres en Puerto Jiménez y en Cahuita para promover un modelo de turismo enfocado en restauración de arrecifes de coral y alianzas entre organizaciones y empresas que desarrollan actividades agropecuarias con el fin de orientar sus acciones a reducir el impacto negativo en los ecosistemas marinos.

  • ¡Estamos emocionados de anunciar que Coralmanía regresa el 29 y 30 de noviembre! Manténgase atento(a) para más detalles sobre el evento y asegúrese de seguirnos en redes sociales para las últimas actualizaciones.

 

2023 Annual Report

 
 

2022 Executive Summary

 
 
 

2021 Executive Summary

 
 

Update September, 2021

Spawning in the Caribbean of Costa Rica.
In August and September our team, along with the officials from Cahuita National Park and SINAC, monitored the spawning (massive reproductive event) of the corals in the Cahuita reef.

In August we witnessed the release of gametes (ovules and sperm) by the coral brain (Clivosa Pseudodiplia).

This record is one the first for our country. Being witnesses that our corals are reproducing sexually makes us hopeful! It will allow us to lay the foundations for the study of its reproductive ecology, a key aspect in reef restoration practices.

 

 Update June, 2021

New coral nursery in the Southern Caribbean of Costa Rica. We recently started a new coral restoration project in our beautiful Southern Caribbean together with our friends from Cahuita National Park!

The Cahuita reef is one of the most developed, extensive and important reefs in our country, but it is also one of the most deteriorated. We must join conservation and restoration efforts to safeguard the integrity of our reefs and the people who depend on them.

We thank the #Adapta2+ program, implemented by Fundecooperación para el Desarrollo Sostenible with funds from the #AdaptationFund for supporting and enabling the work of Raising Coral Costa Rica, as well as the support of the German Development Cooperation GIZ Costa Rica Biodiversidad y Negocios - GIZ. We hope we can continue to reap many successes (and corals) in the next decade, which was declared as the decade of restoration by the United Nations.

Update May, 2021

Training course in Golfo Dulce. Our team organized a 9 day theorical and practical training course about coral restoration and ecoturism in Golfo Dulce.

Thanks to Fundecooperación para el Desarrollo Sostenible, the participants got a scholarship to be part of the course.

We hope to replicate this course to create more capacities in the communities about coral restoration, ecoturism and much more!