Cozumel, Q.R. — As part of their ongoing restoration program, the Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation began the process of labeling coral transplants (Elkhorn coral / Acropora palmata) in order to continue monitoring of the project in the Chankanaab Natural Park.
Rafael Chacón Díaz, director of Conservation and Environmental Education explained that the Chankanaab coral system restoration program began in 2017, and is being carried out in coordination with Oceanus, AC. To date, the site has been repopulated with a 1,500 coral fragments.
He explained that as a result of the success, the growth of the corals has been registered and branches of more than seven centimeters have been generated, which have been separated and planted to expand the restoration area.
Rafael Chacón commented that as part of the new stage, continuous measurement devices known as HOBO are being installed in places where the grill nurseries are located. They were placed with cable ties to record the temperature and light intensity the coral fragments receive.
CEA’s project coordinator, Antonio Chale Chim says that the HOBO installation is of great importance for the restoration program because it will allow greater control over the growth of coral fragments and ramifications to verify the environmental conditions that affect them.
