Catalina Island, Dominican Republic
Preserving a critical coral paradise
THE PROJECT: Catalina Island Restoration Project; Preserving a stunning coral paradise
LOCATION: Catalina Island, Dominican Republic
THE WORK: IOCC partners plan to remove invasive species and restore healthy nutrient flows to coral reefs. However, removing the invasives is only the beginning. Reestablishing native vegetation will go a long way toward attracting key connector species—animals like seabirds and sea turtles that bring nutrients from the sea to the land and back again. In addition to terrestrial restoration, reef restoration will happen in tandem with coral gardening and larval propagation, helping the lush ecosystem flourish.
TIMELINE: XXX
About Catalina Island
Catalina Island, located 2.4 kilometers from the Dominican Republic mainland, is a beautiful, biodiverse home for many unique species. Supported by dunes, lush mangrove forests, and one-of-a-kind reefs, Catalina is home to three endemic reptile species and two species found on one other island. Its pristine sandy beaches are ideal nesting spots for Hawksbill Sea Turtles, and it is also a haven for the endangered Hispaniolan Solenodon, a tiny shrew-like animal.
But beauty is not restrained to the land. Catalina itself is composed of coral stone from the surrounding reefs. Many species of birds and tropical marine fish flourish in the near-shore ecosystem, one of the area's most diverse and healthy coral reef ecosystems.
Unfortunately, invasive species have colonized the land, interrupting key nutrient flows to the surrounding reefs. During the colonial period of the 15th and 16th centuries, multiple harmful species were introduced. These species predate on plants and insects that provide essential food to Catalina’s endangered species. They also predate on the species themselves, eating eggs, fish, and mammals. Thus, they disrupt the ecosystem and significantly impact the surrounding reefs.
Voices from the community
“Catalina Island is one of the best coral reefs of the Dominican Republic; however, due to climate change and bleaching events, corals have suffered high mortalities in Catalina and around the Caribbean. The monitoring of the ecosystems is key to defining the strategy of intervention for their conservation.”
— Rita I. Sellares Blasco, CEO of Fundacion Dominicana de Estudios Marinos
Project Partners & Funders
• Dominican Republic Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources
• Island Conservation
• Fundacion Dominicana de Estudios Marinos (FUNDEMAR)
Photo credits: Andreina Valdez Trinidad and Marvin Del Cid; FUNDEMAR
PREV/NEXT
