Restore Yucatan Reefs

Restore Coral

Think Human Fund

Mission & History

Launched over a decade ago under a Mexican foundation with 17 years of experience in coastal regeneration, Restore Coral has expanded its work across more than 300 km of coastline in the Mexican Caribbean, California Gulf and Pacific. It has restored over 8 hectares of reef, produced thousands of coral fragments, trained local divers and community members, and built strong partnerships with national and international institutions, helping elevate reef restoration into public policy initiatives.

Restore Coral’s mission is to restore coral reef ecosystems by combining social innovation, emerging technology, scientific research, local community knowledge, and public policy. It promotes marine conservation through reef restoration, community training, and advocacy for sustainable coastal management, adapting the SDG14 into the anthropological landscape .

Country Information

Mexico has extensive marine biodiversity and a large network of protected areas, yet many ecosystems face growing pressure from overfishing, pollution, mass tourism, and limited conservation funding. Despite covering nearly 24% of national territory, many marine protected areas lack sufficient resources and effective management.

In regions like the Yucatán Peninsula—part of the Mesoamerican Reef System—local economies rely heavily on fisheries and tourism, increasing pressure on fragile coastal ecosystems. Reef degradation, declining fish stocks, and limited local capacity highlight the urgent need for community-based conservation and sustainable management solutions.

The Need

To address reef degradation in Yucatán, which is directly impacting coastal communities that depend on healthy ecosystems for food, income, and protection from storms. Declining fish stocks, reduced tourism activity, and increased coastal vulnerability are affecting livelihoods and safety, particularly among fishers, tourism workers, youth, and women. Limited economic alternatives and access to training further deepen these challenges, highlighting the need for inclusive, sustainable solutions that restore ecosystems while creating new opportunities for local communities.

The Project We Fund

The project restores degraded coral reefs in Yucatán by producing and outplanting 100 coral fragments while building local capacity for long-term conservation. It trains 20 local fishers, volunteers and youth as certified Reef Guardians, creating new income opportunities through reef restoration, monitoring, and eco-tourism. By combining hands-on restoration with community co-management, it strengthens both ecosystem recovery and local livelihoods.

Volunteer game-changers can support training, awareness activities, and community engagement, helping build local skills, promote conservation, and contribute to the development of sustainable, community-led reef restoration efforts.

The Result

The project’s expected results focus on transforming reef restoration into a community-driven solution. By engaging around 200 direct beneficiaries, the project aims to shift from reef degradation to local stewardship—where communities gain skills, new livelihood opportunities, and increased resilience while actively restoring and protecting their marine ecosystems.