Coral reefs around the world are in peril and approximately half of the world's coral cover has been lost since 1970 due to impacts from climate change, pollution, disease, and fishing practices that can destroy entire reefs. This rate of decline has been quite rapid, particularly when compared to the average rate of growth for a healthy coral in the wild. This ratio of decline to growth had diminished hope among scientists that coral reefs could eventually restore themselves over time. However, with the new technologies of active coral restoration, optimism has returned. Active Coral Restoration: Techniques for a Changing Planet is a timely, comprehensive volume that provides a foundational understanding of the current and emerging practices and technologies used for active coral reef restoration projects around the world. Edited by David E. Vaughan, this work contains contributed chapters written by some of the foremost authorities on coral reef restoration.
Dr David E. Vaughan has held positions in aquaculture research and development for over 30 years. He directed the Aquaculture Division at Harbor Brach Oceanographic Institution (HBOI) for 17 years, including the design, build, and operation of the 60-acre HBOI Aquaculture Development Park, the world's only completely recirculating centre for aquaculture training and demonstration. As the Executive Director of the Mote Marine Laboratory Elizabeth Moore Center for Coral Reef Research and Restoration in the Florida Keys for 15 years, David started the Coral Reef Restoration Program.