The project will develop a unique collaboration between the locals, forest department and scientists with a common goal of the conservation of coral reefs of Lakshadweep. A multidisciplinary approach including, but not limited to, traditional knowledge, molecular-ecological data and education to characterize most resilient sites among selected localities will be utilized. 

1. 200 sq. km of coral reef areas are identified and protected through community participation
2. A management plan for the conservation reserve is co-designed with communities, forest department and relevant stakeholders

The Lakshadweep coral reefs are heterogeneously distributed among 36 different atolls. The inhabitants of Lakshadweep rely predominantly on these reefs for food and protection. However, the recurrent impacts of bleaching due to El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events of 1998, 2010, and 2016 have resulted in a drastic decline of ~ 40% coral reefs in Lakshadweep archipelago over the last two decades. This has posed a threat to the ecosystem as a whole and the livelihoods dependent on it. SCF aims to develop a unique collaboration between the locals, forest department, and scientists with a common goal of the conservation of the coral reefs of Lakshadweep. A multidisciplinary approach including, but not limited to, traditional knowledge, molecular – ecological data and education to characterize most resilient sites among selected localities.