Does Africa need its own coral survival centre?

From the newsletter

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has launched the first global Centre for Species Survival focused on corals. The hub is co-led by Kenyan scientist David Obura from the Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean East Africa and is set to strengthen efforts to protect reefs vital to African communities and economies.

• Coral reefs across the Western Indian Ocean support fisheries and coastal protection for millions in Africa. The new hub will assess extinction risks and set conservation priorities to guide restoration in the region.

• The hub follows the launch of Africa’s first Assisted Recovery of Corals (ARC) Facility in May on Praslin Island in the Seychelles that is using macro-fragmentation and controlled sexual reproduction to regenerate corals threatened by climate change.

More details

• The world’s first Centre for Species Survival dedicated to corals was launched on 15 September 2025 in Tampa, Florida. The hub is created by the IUCN and The Florida Aquarium and will coordinate global action to protect reefs, with scientists from Africa, Europe and the United States shaping priorities and implementation.

• The new hub will serve the IUCN Coral Specialist Group, a network of more than 500 voluntary experts worldwide. It is co-chaired by Dr Francoise Cabada-Blanco of the University of Portsmouth and Dr David Obura of Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean East Africa, whose leadership highlights Africa’s role in global reef science and conservation.

• Coral reefs, often called the “rainforests of the sea”, support 25% of marine species, despite covering less than 1% of the ocean floor and protect millions of people from coastal storms. In Africa’s Western Indian Ocean, they sustain fisheries and coastal livelihoods. Yet bleaching and pollution are driving rapid decline, placing entire ecosystems and dependent communities at severe risk.

• The Centre for Species Survival Corals will tackle these threats by creating partnerships that link conservation organisations with frontline experts. As the IUCN Red List Authority for corals, the Coral Specialist Group will assess which species and reefs are most at risk and guide conservation priorities to inform governments and international policy.

• It will also accelerate solutions by applying restoration science pioneered at The Florida Aquarium. A full-time Species Survival Officer will help translate research into practical measures for communities and governments. The role will focus on reducing threats and facilitating action to protect more than 2,500 coral species worldwide, ensuring global expertise is directed where it is needed most.

• “Becoming the first Centre for coral conservation is both an extraordinary honour and a profound responsibility. This designation is about action and accelerating solutions. By working together with partners worldwide, we are committed to ensuring coral species, whether in Florida, the Great Barrier Reef, the Middle East or any part of our planet, do ]not become extinct,” said Roger Germann, President and CEO of The Florida Aquarium.

• The hub follows the launch of Africa’s first Assisted Recovery of Corals Facility in May on Praslin Island, Seychelles, which pioneers macro-fragmentation and controlled sexual reproduction reef restoration techniques. These initiatives mark a turning point, offering Africa access to global science and new investment while giving coastal communities tools to rebuild ocean resilience and secure their futures.

Our take

• While Africa has strong scientific leadership in the new global hub,a regional centre could give its reefs faster access to tailored science and funding.

• Without a localised centre, African ecosystems may remain underrepresented when urgent, site-specific solutions are needed.