"Heat-Resistant" Corals for Reef Restoration.

This month marks the launch of a major $4.6 million initiative led by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi to pioneer "resilience-first" coral restoration. Leveraging over 20 years of research on heat tolerance, the project aims to identify and outplant specific coral strains that can survive rising ocean temperatures and marine heatwaves. While centered in the University of Hawaiʻi system, the project includes partnerships with local village leaders and indigenous agencies to weave together traditional ecological knowledge with Western marine biology. The goal is to establish self-sustaining reef nurseries that can naturally repopulate damaged areas, protecting coastlines and supporting local fishing communities.

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