Coral Conservation
This lecture is sponsored by NOAA, Counterpart International, and the Smithsonian Institution.
Coral, one of the world’s biological treasures, is at risk worldwide. Colonies that have flourished for thousands of years are dying because of environmental damage, destructive fishing practices such as dynamite fishing and bottom trawling, pollution, and global climate change.
Join National Zoo scientists and conservation leaders to discuss how they are preserving critical forms of corals to avoid extinction, and how they eventually plan to restore these species back into the wild.
This important program will be hosted by acting Zoo director Steve Monfort. The distinguished panel includes experts working on all aspects of coral conservation.
- Mary Hagedorn, from the Zoo, will discuss her latest research on creating a frozen repository of endangered coral.
- Mike Henley, from the Zoo’s Invertebrate Exhibit, will discuss his work growing endangered coral at the Zoo.
- Eric Borneman, from the University of Houston, will outline some of the global and local threats to coral.
- Mitch Carl, from Henry Doorly Zoo, will discuss how he has grown and distributed thousands of specimens endangered elkhorn coral.
- Jennifer Moore, the Acropora recovery coordinator and lead on the ESA Recovery Team from the National Marine Fisheries Service, will discuss the latest plans for coral protection and restoration.
- Dirk Peterson, from the Rotterdam Zoo, will discuss the formation and work of the coral consortium SECORE (Sexual Coral Reproduction).
- Christine Hicks, of Counterpart International, will discuss efforts to save coral throughout the Caribbean. (
Listen to a podcast of the lecture by Counterpart International) - Ken Nedimyer, of the Coral Restoration Foundation, will discuss how he created his staghorn coral nursery in the Florida Keys.
