Climate Change in a Continuous Cultural Landscape
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August 26, 2026The National Parks Authority (NPA) is pleased to announce the completion and highlight the achievements of the Wave Attenuation: Natural Solutions using Elkhorn Coral (WANSEC) project, an ambitious regional initiative demonstrating how coral reef restoration can strengthen coastal resilience while supporting biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods.
Over the past several years, the WANSEC project has advanced one of the largest Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) restoration efforts undertaken in Antigua and Barbuda. Working alongside regional partners in Barbados and Jamaica, the project successfully established approximately 2,500 Endangered Elkhorn coral colonies across reef areas in the Rendezvous Bay, in the Nelson Dockyard National Park, at an average density of one coral per square metre. This innovative restoration approach has been replicated across all three participating islands, restoring coral at high density with the aim to create dense coral stands that restore important reef functions over time.
Elkhorn coral is one of the Caribbean’s most important reef-building species, providing habitat for countless marine organisms while acting as a natural barrier that reduces wave energy before it reaches our coastlines. Unfortunately, the species has experienced dramatic declines throughout the region and, like many Caribbean corals, suffered further losses during the recent fourth global mass coral bleaching event which has been linked to Climate Change.
The unprecedented marine heat stress experienced across the Caribbean presented one of the greatest challenges faced by the WANSEC project. In Antigua and Barbuda, severe bleaching resulted in significant losses within the coral nursery and affected valuable parent colonies that had been established to support future restoration efforts. As a result, the project placed greater emphasis on identifying, protecting and propagating surviving corals that demonstrate assumed heat resilience. By focusing restoration efforts on these naturally surviving colonies while maintaining genetic diversity, the project aims to improve the long-term success and climate resilience of restored reef ecosystems within Antigua and Barbuda.
Recognising that coral restoration is a long-term commitment rather than a short-term solution, the WANSEC project is laying the foundation for benefits that will be realised over decades. Healthy coral reefs play a critical role in protecting coastlines from erosion and storm impacts, supporting fisheries and food security, sustaining marine biodiversity, and contributing to the tourism economy.
Beyond restoration itself, WANSEC has made significant investments in building local and regional capacity. Community members have received practical training in coral restoration techniques, helping to develop local stewardship of marine resources. The project has also supported the commencement of doctoral research investigating the distribution and genetic diversity of Elkhorn coral throughout the Eastern Caribbean. This research will provide valuable scientific information to guide future restoration and conservation efforts by identifying resilient coral populations and strengthening evidence-based management.
