The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs has awarded a grant of more than $406,000 to The Nature Conservancy in the U.S. Virgin Islands This funding will directly support coral restoration efforts in historically mined areas around St. Croix, a practice that once removed large sections of reef and left habitats struggling to recover.
“This grant will allow us to increase the success of our current coral restoration efforts through targeting resilient coral stock to add to our resources,” said Jessica Ward, Virgin Islands Coral Program director. “The project will focus on the identification and use of resilient corals in our restoration work that is essential to increasing reef health and resistance to impacts like disease and climate change.”
For three centuries, coral mining removed large amounts of living coral from the reefs around St. Croix in order to build the coral stone buildings of Christiansted, Frederiksted and the more than 150 windmills used to process sugar cane. Removal of the coral leads to habitat loss for marine species and weakens the overall health of the reef. These damaged ecosystems have faced slow recovery and are facing the increasing threats of the climate crisis, including bleaching and other coral-related diseases.
As coral reefs are integral to the health of the marine environment, tourism, fisheries and shoreline protection in the U.S. Virgin Islands, this award represents a long-term investment in both the environmental and economic future of the region.
“The grant allows us to bolster the long-term success of our restoration efforts, ensuring the reefs can continue to support marine life, protect coastlines, and recover at a faster rate than before,” said Matt Davies, field project supervisor. “These funds will also support the establishment of a coral gene bank, to safeguard the survival of diverse genetic lineages. We are excited by this opportunity to enhance our restoration work while continuing to develop local capacity to support a sustainable future for the coral reefs and communities of St. Croix.”
As one of the first areas of the Caribbean where The Nature Conservancy began its coral restoration work, USVI’s efforts have been pivotal to rebuilding damaged reefs. By partnering with local stakeholders, scientists and federal agencies, the team’s ongoing commitment is essential for a healthy ocean and its reefs that act as natural barriers, protecting coastal communities from storm surges and erosion, and enhancing their resilience to ongoing climate-related stressors.
