Integrated Coral Disturbance Response Planning Framework

Coral reef managers needed a more coordinated approach to preparing for, responding to, and recovering from multiple disturbances, including coral bleaching, disease outbreaks, storms, and other threats. In U.S. states and territories with coral reefs, current plans often address threats individually, creating inefficiencies and making it difficult to align planning, financial and staff resources, and decision-making across disturbances. The Nature Conservancy Reef Resilience Network tasked ERG with developing an Integrated Coral Disturbance Response Planning Framework to help managers streamline preparedness and response planning across multiple disturbance types.

ERG’s work included research, stakeholder engagement, and pilot testing through an interactive workshop with managers in Guam to create a practical, adaptable planning approach. In Guam, ERG also provided technical assistance to support development of a Guam integrated coral disturbance response plan. As a result of this work, coral reef managers in U.S. coral jurisdictions will now have a framework they can use to develop integrated disturbance response plans and better coordinate preparedness and response activities across multiple disturbance scenarios. The integrated framework will also help reduce duplicative planning efforts and support more efficient resource use. In addition, the framework development and pilot process generated lessons learned that can be used by coral reef managers across U.S. jurisdictions and beyond to strengthen coral reef resilience.