Together with our partners, CORDAP has launched a global Expression of Interest to help advance two major coral Grand Challenges
Accelerating ocean warming, combined with local pressures such as pollution, habitat destruction, and disease, is pushing coral reefs towards increasingly critical thresholds. In some regions, including parts of the Caribbean, certain coral species can no longer reproduce successfully without human intervention.
Developing restoration approaches that increase coral resilience to rising temperatures while preserving genetic diversity will be essential to the future of coral reef conservation. As CORDAP advances the development of the Global Coral Heat Tolerance Challenge and the Global Coral Biobank Network Grand Challenge, we are inviting organisations from across the coral conservation and restoration community to contribute their knowledge, experience, capabilities, and perspectives through a global Expression of Interest (EOI).
The expertise already exists across the global coral community. The next step is connecting people, resources, and infrastructure to accelerate solutions and deliver impact where it is needed most. CORDAP and its partners have resources and opportunities to invest in these Challenges, and we need your input to help guide how they are developed and delivered.
We want to hear from you
This EOI will help CORDAP and its partners better understand existing capacity, expertise, infrastructure, coral resources, and opportunities for collaboration across the global coral community.
More importantly, your responses will help shape the practical design and implementation of the two Grand Challenges. We want to understand not only what organisations can contribute, but also what support, partnerships, knowledge exchange, training, or other opportunities would be most valuable to enable greater impact.
By working directly with the organisations, practitioners, and facilities involved in coral conservation and restoration, we can build more effective, inclusive, and collaborative initiatives.
Who should express their interest?
We encourage participation from:
- Coral restoration practitioners
- Restoration programmes and coordinating bodies
- Coral holding facilities and aquaria
- Regional and international reef networks
- Training and capacity-development organisations
- Other organisations working in coral conservation and restoration
The species Acropora paniculata starting to release its gametes during the spawning season in Malaysia. Credits: James Tan
The two Grand Challenges
Global Coral Heat Tolerance Challenge
Developed in partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, this Challenge aims to accelerate the development, testing, validation, and deployment of approaches that improve coral heat tolerance and help reefs withstand a warming ocean.
Global Coral Biobank Network Grand Challenge
Developed in partnership with KANALOA, this Challenge aims to establish a global network to safeguard coral genetic diversity through living coral collections and cryopreserved genetic resources.
Why your voice matters
The success of these Grand Challenges will depend on strong international collaboration and the active involvement of organisations across the coral conservation community.
We know there is extraordinary expertise and innovation already being applied around the world. We also know that many organisations face barriers that limit their ability to scale their impact. Tell us what you can contribute, what support would be most valuable, and how you would like to participate. Your input will help shape future initiatives, partnerships, and support mechanisms designed to accelerate coral conservation and restoration globally.
The EOI will be open from 7 September to 7 October 2026. Organisations may respond to one or both Grand Challenges. The supporting documents are available in English, Spanish, French, Indonesian and Chinese.
Even if your organisation is not directly engaged in coral restoration, we encourage you to share this opportunity through your professional and regional networks to help ensure broad, diverse, and geographically representative participation from across the global coral community.
Express your interest here: https://forms.gle/KVphE8FhRftzfWjf6
For questions about the Expression of Interest, please contact pcn@kaust.edu.sa.