Clean Reefs: dynamic pollution mapping

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With nearly one billion people living within 100 km of coral reefs, pollution from land-based sources, such as sediments, excessive amounts of nutrients, and wastewater, poses a significant threat to reef health globally, affecting over 30% of coral reefs. Effective pollution management has therefore become essential for coral reef conservation. Yet the tools available for reef practitioners are still largely inaccessible or unsuitable for decision-making.

The CLEAN REEFS project seeks to close this gap by developing a global, open-source pollution mapping and risk assessment tool, which will enable coral reef managers, scientists, and citizen scientists to identify and address pollution risks across coral ecosystems. Through an intuitive, web-based application, CLEAN REEFS will provide near-real-time data on pollution sources, exposure, and dispersal patterns. This tool will enhance local conservation planning by aiding the identification of high-risk areas, pollution sources, and possible mitigation strategies, ultimately improving coral restoration outcomes.

CLEAN REEFS will work on two scales: (1) supporting on-the-ground conservation in Fiji and the Solomon Islands, and (2) creating a globally adaptable tool that benefits coral reef communities worldwide.