Journal article
Enhancing coral restoration in the Philippines through governance and policy integration
Restoration ecology, Vol.34(4), pp.1-8
05/2026
Metrics
Abstract
Objective: Coral restoration is an increasingly used tool to support marine conservation and management, yet its effectiveness is influenced by its integration with coastal policy and governance landscapes. In the Philippines, the rapid expansion of coral restoration projects in recent decades highlighted significant governance challenges, from regulatory gaps, poor cross-sectoral coordination, and sustainability problems. This paper presents a governance framework tailored to coral restoration in the Philippines, drawing on the country's extensive experience with effective marine protected area (MPA) management to provide recommendations for national and local stakeholders. Method: Based on experiences from a research project on the institutional effectiveness of coral restoration, we identified five critical pathways for addressing key coral restoration challenges in the country, including strategic site selection; inclusive stakeholder engagement; long-term monitoring; and multi-scale and cross-sectoral collaboration and policy integration; and embedding ecosystem-based climate adaptation within restoration initiatives to bolster coral reef resilience. Results: While multiple governance reforms are needed, we highlight integration of coral restoration into existing MPA governance as a critical entry point for improving practice in the Philippine context, with relevance for other decentralised coastal systems. Discussion: Our framework aims to maximise the impact of coral restoration, enhancing the recovery of damaged reef areas through strategic management to minimise the adverse effects of human activities and climate change in the Philippines.
Details
- Title
- Enhancing coral restoration in the Philippines through governance and policy integration
- Creators
- Vera Horigue - Macquarie UniversityMichael Fabinyi - University of Technology SydneyEthel Ruth Baquiran - University of the Philippines BaguioKate Barclay - University of Technology SydneyMaria Vanessa Baria-Rodriguez - University of the Philippines DilimanRouenne Camille De Castro - University of the Philippines DilimanJoey Gatus - University of the Philippines DilimanPeter Harrison - Southern Cross UniversityDane Erlo Matorres - University of the Philippines DilimanBridget Mullany - University of Technology SydneyNicholas McClean - University of Technology SydneyCarmela Therese Novilla - University of the Philippines DilimanMiledel Christine Quibilan - University of the Philippines Diliman
- Publication Details
- Restoration ecology, Vol.34(4), pp.1-8
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- FIS 2021/112 / Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
- Identifiers
- 991013348837902368
- Copyright
- © 2026 The Author(s).
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article