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the claim
Active restoration such as coral transplantation can restore degraded coral reefs at scale.
the verdict
CONTESTED PARTIAL
Recorded sources
5 sources for · 3 against
Is it true that active restoration such as coral transplantation can restore degraded coral reefs at scale?
Partly. Several peer-reviewed studies and agency records show coral transplantation and gardening can restore coral cover and function at local and regional scales, and one meta-analysis reports coral restoration is successful and scalable through many small interventions. However, a Western Indian Ocean review and a cold-water coral review find restoration still nascent and small-scale, and a cost analysis argues restoration alone cannot be scaled globally to save reefs.
Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 5 sources for, 3 against · Last checked
Evidence for · 5
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Cabaitan, P. C., Yap, H. T., & Gomez, E. D. (2015). Performance of single versus mixed coral species for transplantation to restore degraded reefs. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12205
Evidence against · 3
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JF, K., O, F., N, N., L, S., J, W., J, K., G, T., A, L., L, S., N, O., D, O., E, S., M, J., H, Y., J, O., M, H., C, L., T, V., P, H. M. M., & J, L. (2026). A review of coral reef restoration initiatives in the Western Indian Ocean Region.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0348015
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More for · 4
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R, D., J, A., S, B., C, B., W, C., R, C., C, C., J, C., P, D., C, G., J, G., A, G., A, G., A, H., L, M., T, M., S, O., N, P., E, R., & CJ, S. (2025). Assessing the success of marine ecosystem restoration using meta-analysis.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57254-2
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Restoring Coral Reefs | NOAA FisheriesLock. (n.d.). fisheries.noaa.gov. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/restoring-coral-reefs
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Martínez-Castillo, V., Rodríguez-Troncoso, A. P., & Cupul-Magaña, A. L. (2023). Evidence of Sexual Reproduction in Out-Planted Coral Colonies. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans4040024
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Strategies for Gardening Denuded Coral Reef Areas: The Applicability of Using Different Types of Coral Material for Reef Restoration. (n.d.). cir.nii.ac.jp. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1526-100x.2001.94012.x
More against · 2
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Active Ecological Restoration of Cold-Water Corals: Techniques, Challenges, Costs and Future Directions. (2021). hal.science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.621151
2 recorded entries grouped as this source
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Montseny, M., Linares, C., Carreiro-Silva, M., Henry, L., Billett, D., & Cordes, E. E. (2021). Active Ecological Restoration of Cold-Water Corals: Techniques, Challenges, Costs and Future Directions. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.621151
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Restoration cannot be scaled up globally to save reefs from loss and degradation - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02667-x
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