The U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs has awarded over $406,000 to The Nature Conservancy in the U.S. Virgin Islands, significantly enhancing coral restoration efforts in historically mined areas around St. Croix. This initiative aims to rejuvenate reefs that have struggled to recover from extensive coral mining for over three centuries.
Jessica Ward, the Virgin Islands Coral Program director, emphasized that the funding will help identify and utilize resilient coral stocks, crucial for improving reef health and resilience against diseases and climate change impacts.
Coral mining historically devastated St. Croix's reefs, leading to habitat loss and weakened ecosystems. The new grant is seen as a long-term investment in both environmental sustainability and economic stability for the region, which relies on healthy reefs for tourism, fisheries, and coastal protection.
Matt Davies, field project supervisor, noted that the funds will also support the establishment of a coral gene bank to preserve diverse genetic lineages. This project not only aims to restore coral populations but also to build local capacity for sustainable reef management, ensuring a resilient future for St. Croix's marine ecosystems.