Coral reef restoration projects in Thailand

The degradation and deterioration of coral reefs in Thailand has continued for several decades due to pressures from fishery and tourism activities and, more recently, from bleaching. Several institutions and organizations, from both the government and the private sector, have been involved in programs to restore degraded coral reefs. The objectives, scales and methods of these restoration projects have varied widely. This paper briefly reviews the achievements of selected coral reef restoration projects and provides guidelines for future restoration initiatives. The high cost and limited scale of restoration projects puts the onus on governments and communities to prevent damage to coral reefs in the first place. Where restoration is necessary, basic data on the biology and ecology of target species of corals, socio-economic analyses and the involvement of local communities in all stages of the project are key elements for success.