As coral reef restoration efforts expand worldwide, success depends not only on scientific innovation, but on the policies and regulatory systems that enable action on the ground. The release of a new guidance document, Strengthening Coral Reef Restoration Regulatory Frameworks, Guidance for reviewing national regulatory frameworks, is designed to support governments in coral-reef- countries to strengthen regulatory frameworks for effective and responsible coral reef restoration.
Developed in collaboration with UNEP-WCMC, Coral Restoration Consortium (CRC), Marine Ecosystem Restoration Research and Consulting (MER Consulting), and the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), with contributions from Margaux, the guidance responds to a growing need for regulatory systems that keep pace with rapid advances in coral reef restoration science and practice. As restoration efforts scale up globally, clear, coherent and adaptive regulatory frameworks are essential to ensure interventions are effective, responsible and aligned with broader conservation and climate objectives.
The guidance provides practical steps for reviewing and improving the regulatory environments that govern coral reef restoration. For the purposes of the document, regulatory frameworks are understood as the overall system of laws, regulations and guidelines that influence restoration activity, and regulators as the public authorities responsible for their development, implementation and enforcement.
At its core, the document outlines a structured three-step process – Collate, Review and Adapt – to help governments assess existing frameworks and identify opportunities for reform. In addition, it highlights key principles to consider when reviewing regulatory systems and illustrates how these principles can be incorporated into national regulatory approaches:
- Integration with broader management strategies
- Ecosystem health and function
- Stakeholder engagement
Climate change and resilience - Adaptive project structures
- Financial and organisational sustainability
The document is supplemented by lessons from national case studies from: Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, India, Jamaica, Madagascar, Philippines, and the USA (Hawai’i).
While primarily designed for policymakers and regulators, the guidance is also relevant to restoration practitioners, non-governmental organisations, academia and the private sector, offering insight into the broader governance context within which coral reef restoration takes place.
By applying this guidance and drawing on the expertise of civil society, governments can develop robust regulatory frameworks that support effective coral reef restoration and contribute to national and global commitments, including Target 2 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the ambitions of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
Read the full guidance here.
