The International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS) 2026: Five Themes Shaping the Future of Coral Reef Restoration

At the 16th International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS) in Auckland, scientists, practitioners, policy-makers and conservationists came together to share the latest research and consider how we can better protect and restore reefs in a rapidly changing climate.

For the Mars Sustainable Solutions team, ICRS provided an opportunity to listen, challenge our thinking and consider how emerging science can continue to inform how we restore reefs at scale.

Across the conference, we identified five key themes. These themes point towards a future of restoration that is more diverse, more data-driven and more focused on the ecological processes that enable reefs to function and recover.

Research presented at ICRS showed that resilience operates across multiple levels - from the characteristics of individual coral colonies and species, to the physical conditions of a site and the connectivity between reefs.

To survive in a changing climate, restoration must move beyond simply replacing lost coral cover. It must actively build resilience into the very fabric of the restored reef through a multi-dimensional, portfolio-based approach. 

• Sourcing Local Champions: Research shared at ICRS shows that naturally tough, heat-tolerant corals exist on almost every reef. We can build stronger reefs by finding and growing these resilient local survivors, bolstered by imported or laboratory-grown corals to increase genetic variation where needed.
• Using Nature's Built-In Protection: Coral bleaching is influenced by more than just temperature. Local elements like strong water flow, natural shading, and cloud cover act as shields against heat. Choosing restoration sites with these natural features builds built-in climate resilience. 
• Smart Mapping for Maximum Impact: To get the best results from our efforts, we must use smart mapping and environmental data. By identifying key reefs that naturally seed surrounding areas through ocean currents, we can situate our restoration where it is protected and can help revive the wider marine ecosystem.

Restoration should not depend on a single measure of resilience. Instead, we need to consider the full picture and how each element works together. 

A dominant theme that emerged was the importance of biological diversity.

A resilient reef is not simply one with high coral cover. It is a complex ecosystem in which different species and functional groups perform different roles. True diversity requires diversity across species, geographies, and trophic levels:

• Restoring a mix of coral types, rather than focusing on one type, e.g. fast-growing branching corals. 
• Understanding that a healthy ecosystem is more than just coral and needs a variety of marine life to thrive. Co-planting corals alongside other organisms improves overall reef health, helps control algae, and directly boosts coral survival, e.g., herbivorous species.
• Diverse community leadership. Nature's diversity must be matched by human diversity. Successful conservation depends on flexible, local management systems, community-led stewardship, and sustainable fishing practices. 

ICRS highlighted the importance of translating scientific research into practical solutions that can be applied in the field.

• Researchers were encouraged to use their collective expertise beyond the lab to drive policy, shape public opinion, and directly support field practitioners. 
• There was a strong call for closer collaboration between scientists and those working in the water. As Dr David Suggett (Director, KAUST) challenged 2,000 coral reef scientists in the plenary: "For those of you who are not working with restoration practitioners, why not? They need you." 
• Exploring more Low-Cost, Scalable Solutions. While exciting cutting-edge technologies are continually emerging, they must be adapted into simple, cost-effective proxies that local communities and practitioners can deploy at scale. 

Reef restoration is not just the work of one person, one organisation or one community. ICRS recognised that scaling global restoration requires the resources, capital, and operational efficiency of the private sector and major industries. 

We need to recognise and highlight the real-world economic value of healthy reefs to attract major investment. Coastal protection, tourism, and fisheries are important to business and government bodies around the world and should be formally recognised as such.

The case studies presented at ICRS proved that community-led, scientifically backed restoration is already delivering measurable success: 

• Australia: Collaborative partnerships on the Great Barrier Reef are successfully integrating tourism operators, scientists, and Traditional Owners into active, community-led reef stewardship. 
• Palau & Micronesia: Programs are training local leaders to build climate-smart reefs. By combining community knowledge with scientific heat-tolerance testing, they are safeguarding local marine resources. 
• Colombia & the Red Sea: Projects in these regions are demonstrating the power of community-led restoration at Varadero Reef and innovative multi-taxa, multi-use assemblage designs at KAUST, proving that local empowerment is the key to long-term ecological recovery. 

ICRS reinforced that there is no single solution to the challenges facing coral reefs; it is a global effort that requires a global response.

The future of restoration will depend on bringing together science, practical innovation, diverse application and local custodianship to deliver the best outcome for the reef.

For the Mars Sustainable Solutions team, these insights will continue to inform how we develop, design and deliver our restoration program at scale - with the goal of not simply planting coral, but helping to restore more resilient reef ecosystems for the future.

Find out more about our work to date here.