Ethical Dilemmas in Coral Reef Restoration

Coral reef restoration projects provide unique and important opportunities to apply the science of coral reef ecology to improve ecologically fragile but degraded ecosystems. Restoration represents an intersection of objective-based science and policy-based practice, involving scientists, ecosystem managers, public agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the public. People with different training, objectives, values, languages, and cultures need to work together to develop and implement restoration plans and monitor restoration outcomes. Those involved with these projects often are faced with many challenges of logistics such as prioritizing projects and determining what constitutes restoration success. A tremendous amount of energy has been devoted to these challenges. Yet, these questions also lead to ethical dilemmas that are more difficult to address with systematic or prescriptive approaches.

Duke Scholars

Author Rebecca L. Vidra Marine Science and Conservation