Current Trends and Future Path Analysis of Coral Reef Restoration: A Systematic Review and Analysis

Abstract

The Coral Reefs (CR) have suffered significant damage due to both local and international stresses, prompting the use of several proactive restoration approaches to rehabilitate degraded corals. Summarizing recovery activities comprehensively is challenging due to inconsistent reporting. This research examines the legislative structure for CR rehabilitation, which is part of the goal of two government agencies (Marine Industries and Fishery and Environmental and Forests) and includes national laws and federal, presidential, and ministry directives. The research comprehensively analyzes CR Restoration (CRR) initiatives, cataloging 530 entries nationwide from 2000 to 2023. Most (72%) of these records originate from the last decade, with a significant portion (40%) documented in online news items instead of scholarly studies or publications. This analysis documented 120k synthetic CR units erected, alongside 53k coral transplanting units (comprising both coral nursery and straight out-planting onto corals); 965k pieces of hard coral had been established. Concrete (45%) and steel buildings (23%) are the preferred restoration elements. Projects are coordinated by various governmental, non-governmental, business, and community-based organizations. This review indicates that the rules have facilitated a variety of practitioners in executing CRR; however, projects frequently lack coordination with broader networks of restoring professionals or researchers, and merely 15% of the discovered projects incorporated a post-installation tracking structure. Integrating specific goals and sustained monitoring programs during project development while emphasizing information exchange and collaboration with the global scientific society can significantly enhance restoration results. This will enable the nation to realize its significant capacity as an international leader in restoring devastated CRs.