The Caribbean Coral Health Forum
Finding Solutions - Sharing Knowledge
The Caribbean Coral Health Forum (CCHF) is a regional platform for sharing knowledge, field experience, research, and opportunities related to coral reef health across the Caribbean.
Through the Forum and its newsletter, CBF helps connect scientists, conservation practitioners, community members, grantees, partners, and coral reef enthusiasts working to understand and respond to coral bleaching, disease, restoration challenges, and reef resilience.
About the CCHF Newsletter
Each edition of this quarterly newsletter is powered by the valuable contributions of our members and features research updates, field insights, local and regional initiatives, events, and opportunities to engage in coral health efforts.
By sharing knowledge and experiences, the newsletter aims to strengthen connections across the region and support collective action to conserve the vibrant reefs that sustain our communities, economies, and marine biodiversity.
We look forward to growing this community with you and celebrating the incredible work being done to protect Caribbean coral reefs.
Caribbean Coral Health Forum April 2026 Edition
Each edition of this quarterly newsletter is powered by the valuable contributions of our members and features research updates, field insights, local and regional initiatives, events, and opportunities to engage in coral health efforts.
By sharing knowledge and experiences, the CCHF Newsletter aims to strengthen connections across the region and support collective action to conserve the vibrant reefs that sustain our communities, economies, and marine biodiversity.
What’s Inside
In this edition of the CCHF Newsletter, you will find updates from the Dominican Republic on long-term tracking of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) and the encouraging natural recruitment of Meandrina meandrites after severe declines.
We also share early insights from doctoral research on the genetic diversity and survival of elkhorn coral across Antigua, Barbuda, and Barbados, alongside progress in scaling coral restoration within Antigua’s Nelson Dockyard National Park through the WANSEC and EbA Caribbean projects.
The issue highlights innovative, community-driven restoration efforts, including the Mayreau Hybrid Reef Project in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, which combines Reef Balls with live coral planting, and the curation of one of the Caribbean’s largest Acropora gene banks in Jamaica to safeguard climate-adapted genetics. Also featured is a remarkable discovery by the Oracabessa Marine Trust (OMT) of a rare elkhorn coral “hotspot” in St. Mary, where 71 healthy colonies have survived recent mass bleaching events.
Finally, the newsletter includes links to a key presentation on the near-extirpation of Acropora species in Jamaica and an overview of the recently released 2025 report detailing the status and trends of Caribbean coral reefs from 1970 to 2024.
- CARIBBEAN CORAL HEALTH FORUM
- May 6, 2026
- CARIBBEAN CORAL HEALTH FORUM
- May 5, 2026
- CARIBBEAN CORAL HEALTH FORUM
- May 5, 2026
- CARIBBEAN CORAL HEALTH FORUM
- May 5, 2026
- CARIBBEAN CORAL HEALTH FORUM
- May 5, 2026
- CARIBBEAN CORAL HEALTH FORUM
- May 5, 2026
Publications & Presentations
NEW REPORT: STATUS & TRENDS OF CARIBBEAN CORAL REEFS: 1970 - 2024
Publication Date: 9th December 2025
Author(s): Edited by Jérémy Wicquart, Laëtitia Mathon, Auriane Petit, Andrea Rivera-Sosa & Melanie McField
Publication Title: Status & Trends of Caribbean Coral Reefs: 1970–2024
This major regional report provides one of the most comprehensive assessments of Caribbean coral reefs, drawing on more than 23,000 surveys from nearly 14,000 sites across 44 countries and territories.
- Hard coral cover declined by 48% from 1980 to 2024.
- Macroalgae cover increased by 85% over the same period.
- Sea surface temperatures over Caribbean coral reef areas increased by +1.07°C between 1985 and 2024.
PRESENTATION: Responding to the Near-Extirpation of Acropora spp. in Jamaican Waters
Presenter: Felix Charnley MSc
Presentation Title: Responding to the Near-Extirpation of Acropora spp. in Jamaican Waters
This presentation was given at Reef Futures 2024 following a one-year consultancy for the White River Fish Sanctuary. It examines the severe decline of Acropora species in Jamaican waters and highlights restoration and mapping efforts responding to this near-extirpation event.
The views expressed in this presentation are for information only and do not represent the official position of the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund or its partners.
Caribbean Coral Health Forum September 2025 Edition
Launched by the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund in October 2024, the Forum connects scientists, conservationists, community members, and coral enthusiasts across the region to share knowledge and collaborate on protecting Caribbean reefs. Our growing network—currently linked through a WhatsApp group—exchanges insights on coral health challenges such as mass bleaching and Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease.
This quarterly newsletter highlights research, field updates, regional initiatives, events, and opportunities to get involved. In this first edition, discover coral restoration in Saint Lucia, micro-fragmentation in Jamaica, a call for assisted coral migration, disease monitoring in the Dominican Republic, and new tools shaping the future of coral conservation.
- CARIBBEAN CORAL HEALTH FORUM
- August 13, 2025
- CARIBBEAN CORAL HEALTH FORUM
- August 13, 2025
- CARIBBEAN CORAL HEALTH FORUM
- August 13, 2025
- CARIBBEAN CORAL HEALTH FORUM
- August 14, 2025
- CARIBBEAN CORAL HEALTH FORUM
- September 2, 2025
- CARIBBEAN CORAL HEALTH FORUM
- September 2, 2025
- CARIBBEAN CORAL HEALTH FORUM
- October 27, 2025
Publications
MONITOREA: A guide for an integrated monitoring network of marine Coastal ecosystems in the Dominican Republic
- Publication Date: December 2024
- Author (s): Rita I. Sellares Blasco & Aldo Croquer
- Publication Title: MONITOREA: Integrating the assessment of marine-coastal ecosystems for their conservation and management. Monitoring manual and practical protocols guide
- Publication Link
#ForCoral Webinar Series
- Authors: International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI)
- Description: The #ForCoral Webinar series serves as a platform for dialogue, exchange of ideas, and dissemination of best practices in coral reef conservation and management
- Publication Link
A Guide to Coral Reef Restoration for the Tourism Sector
- Publication Date: April 2024
- Author (s): The Nature Conservancy, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association and the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism with support from the United Nations Environmental Program
- Description: This useful guide walks businesses, governments and communities through key steps and practices they can undertake to effectively manage, protect and renew coral reefs. The guide was developed with the input of the industry and the scientific community
- Publication Link
Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease and Other Diseases Affect Adults and Recruits of Major Reef Builders at Different Spatial Scales in the Dominican Republic
- Author (s): Aldo Croquer, Someira Zambrano, Samuel King, Daniel Reyes, Rita Sellares, Andreina Valdez, Maria Villapando, Yira Rodriguez, Estefany Vargas, Camilo Cortés, Macarena Blanco, Johanna Calle, Rebecca García, Ana C. Hernándezt, Ruben Torres, Iker Irazabal, Laura Diaz, Dorka Evangelista, and Emy Miyazawa
- Description: SCTLD and other diseases impact reef builders in the Dominican Republic, with regional variations highlighting the need for long-term monitoring and response strategies.
- Publication Link: Research Gate
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