Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction - Concrete substrates for coral restoration, Philippines

Concrete substrates for accelerated coral restoration

Project field trials continue: growth developments on coral planting using “A-leg beam” (left) and cylindrical (right) concrete substrates.

Holcim Awards Silver 2005 Asia Pacific
Overview Funding challenges slow implementation – but field tests produce promising results, and the project was also featured at the Nobel Laureates exhibition and conference in Germany.
Main author Lemuel Alfeche, Mindanao Polytechnic State College and Ronald Rodriguez, Diamond Marketing, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines

Concrete stars in reef fabrication
Winner of the Holcim Awards Silver 2005 for Asia Pacific, a project centered on concrete substrates for accelerated coral restoration was designed by Lemuel Alfeche and Ronald Rodriguez to address the problem of degraded coral reefs.

Destructive fishing practices, pollution and other damage together with climate change are severely impacting the coral reefs. Marine biodiversity and fish stocks have dwindled causing significant impacts not only on the oceans, but also on local communities who rely on fishing for food and economic development.

The project designers found that concrete is an ideal material not only for making the framework strong and resistant to the elements, but also due to its low acidity which favors accelerated coral growth. The young corals can therefore be soon harvested and successfully transplanted to other areas. The concrete structures can be adjusted to optimize their placement in terms of access to light and avoiding strong currents. Its shape, with the eight elongated legs is reminiscent of a starfish, Acanthaster plancii, from which the Acanthasia project takes its name.

The “concrete starfish” was first introduced in early-2000 at Duka Bay in the Southern Philippines – thus beginning a meticulous data gathering process to document the coral’s development. The project was praised by the Asia Pacific regional jury for addressing not only ecological issues but also considering economic feasibility, social benefits and transferability to other sites.

Funding challenges slow implementation
The planned start of mass production and deployment has been delayed due to a lack of funding, but further research has continued up to coral out-planting. It is intended to replicate the project across a wider area of Gingoog Bay, in the southern Philippines.

Tests sites grow coral and build knowledge
Although restoration plans for the damaged coral reef environment of the Duka Bay through coral transplantation were not comprehensive, the impact of the project generated the following positive effects:

The transplanted coral reef area has become one of the tourist attractions of the Duka Bay Resort. The influx of local and foreign tourists to the resort generated revenue exceeding the expense of the trial coral transplantation project.
Fishing communities who originally were responsible for the massive coral reef destruction are now beginning to shift away from fishery exploitation to the more lucrative yet less harmful tourism in Medina. Income from tourism supports fishing families and generated additional economic activity in the sleepy town of Medina.
The local community, who were initially skeptical about the coral reef rehabilitation project are now convinced that there is income in environmental restoration and conservation. With this experience, environmentalists and other lobby groups would have better chances of disseminating environmental restoration and protection techniques to other communities e.g. the concept of implementing Marine Protected Areas (MPA’s) which is often acceptable to coastal townspeople of the country.
Environmental scientists and academics in the Philippines are encouraged by the success of the project – in seeking sustainable solutions to restoring ecologically-damaged environments both in the marine and terrestrial environment as well.

Coral sustainability showcased – in Germany!
In honor of the annual conference of Nobel laureates on the shores of Lake Constance at Lindau in Germany, a series of scientific presentations under the theme of Discoveries 2009 – Water was exhibited on the island of Mainau in 2009. The exhibition consisted of 20 pavilions of scientific experiments, simulations and displays demonstrating what science contributes to addressing the challenges of humanity. The Holcim Foundation hosted one of the pavilions by featuring the Acanthasia project and describing in detail the importance of science in sustainable construction and developing an innovative solution to support coral regeneration.

Last updated: 21-Sept-2010

Image gallery - Concrete substrates for accelerated coral restoration, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines
All project images and photos shown below can be downloaded in high-resolution (print quality). To download an image, click on the link below any picture. For assistance or clarifications, or a wider selection of images, please contact info@holcimfoundation.org

Concrete is the ideal material for the coral substrate.

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The “concrete starfish” prototype was first introduced in early-2000 at Duka Bay in the Southern Philippines.

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Young corals can soon be harvested and successfully transplanted to other areas.

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Meticulous data gathering continues to document the coral’s development.

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The concrete structures can be adjusted to optimize their placement in terms of access to light and avoiding strong currents.

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The concrete forms can be produced close to the site using simple materials and methods.

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Its shape, with the eight elongated legs is reminiscent of a starfish.

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Marine biodiversity and fish stocks are vital for local communities who rely on fishing for food and economic development.

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The project was praised for also considering economic feasibility, social benefits and transferability to other sites.

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Project update – Concrete substrates for accelerated coral restoration, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines

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