A G20 initiative
The Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform – CORDAP – was launched in 2020 by the G20 to fast-track research and development solutions to save the world’s corals.
CORDAP will bring together the best minds worldwide, in a transdisciplinary approach, to accelerate and scale up the development of new technologies that support international coral conservation efforts needed to secure a future for tropical coral reefs and cold-water corals.
The window to save the corals is closing
Over two-thirds of the world’s coral reefs have been lost due to human activity, and the remaining 70% to 90% of global coral reefs may disappear in the next 10-15 years.
For the first time, the functionality of an entire ecosystem that supports millions of species and people may be lost at the hands of humans.
How corals benefit us
Economic
Corals support the livelihoods of 1 billion people.
Coral reef-related tourism produces US $36 billion per year.
Reduce expected storm damages by more than US $4 billion annually.
Lower the total number of people affected by flooding by 45% annually.
Total economic goods and services: about US $2.7 trillion per year.
Environmental
Corals cover 0.2% of the ocean floor but support at least 25% of all marine species.
Shelter an estimated 32% of all named marine species.
Total ecosystem services: nearly US $10 trillion per year (almost equal to the annual GDP of China)
Total benefit
US $12.7 trillion per year.
(Over 15% of worldwide annual GDP).
We need to innovate on behalf of corals
Current coral restoration is among the most expensive restoration, is dominated by short-term projects, suitable only for small-scale intervention, and has the lowest success rate.
Innovative technical solutions and large scale wide interventions are needed to safe the corals and reefs.
A new
approach
Unique in its time-sensitive mission, G20 CORDAP will support, complement, and scale up existing and new initiatives working on coral conservation, resilience, adaptation, and restoration.
Focused on research and development
CORDAP is the only international organization fully dedicated to funding global research and development for coral restoration and conservation.
Transdisciplinary international collaborations
By integrating the abilities of the world’s best scientific minds in collaborative projects, CORDAP aims to develop effective and scalable solutions that can be transferred to coral conservation practitioners.
Committed to scalability
Most coral restoration methods are suitable only for small-scale intervention. CORDAP-funded projects will accelerate the research and development of next-generation solutions to conserve and restore corals and reefs at a much broader scale, delivering far greater impact.
Open to all
CORDAP ‘s open-source platform will allow any organization to advance and use the platform’s technologies.
We welcome the participation of anyone with workable ideas for solving this issue.
How CORDAP Operates
By integrating the problem-solving abilities of the world’s best scientific minds in collaborative projects, CORDAP aims to develop effective, scalable solutions that can be transferred to and scaled up by, coral conservation practitioners.
CORDAP’s open-source platform will allow any organization to advance and use the platform’s technologies.
All donations and contributions to CORDAP will go directly to coral restoration R&D activities through a dedicated foundation.
CORDAP Funding Awards
The Coral Accelerator Program (CAP) will award funds to multinational collaborative teams with impactful ideas that lead to significant discoveries, innovations, and improvements in coral conservation and restoration.
News & Events
Your contribution can fast-track research and development solutions to save the corals.
Images: © Morgan Bennett-Smith