Editing Coral (section)

== Protection ==
{{Main|Coral reef protection}}

Marine Protected Areas, [[Biosphere reserves]], [[marine park]]s, [[national monument]]s [[world heritage]] status, [[Fisheries management|fishery management]] and [[habitat (ecology)|habitat protection]] can protect reefs from anthropogenic damage.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=January 2011 |title=Phoenix Rising |url=http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/01/phoenix-islands/stone-text |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218213927/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/01/phoenix-islands/stone-text |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 18, 2010 |magazine=National Geographic Magazine |access-date=April 30, 2011}}</ref>

Many governments now prohibit removal of coral from reefs, and inform coastal residents about reef protection and ecology. While local action such as habitat restoration and herbivore protection can reduce local damage, the longer-term threats of acidification, temperature change and sea-level rise remain a challenge.<ref name="cra10" />

Protecting networks of diverse and healthy reefs, not only climate [[Refugium (population biology)|refugia]], helps ensure the greatest chance of [[genetic diversity]], which is critical for coral to adapt to new climates.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Walsworth, T.E.; Schindler, D.E.; Colton, M.A.; Webster, M.S.; Palumbi, S.R.; Mumby, P.J.; Essington, T.E.; Pinsky, M.L. |date=July 1, 2019 |title=Management for network diversity speeds evolutionary adaptation to climate change |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-019-0518-5.epdf?author_access_token=P8wTmOVZpLkKcslba2guA9RgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0MfsDpsr-XFeaym1-pv8WErp3wvwWdkVHp-xxQar4ROnGw5GpCATCYx5cv3yLdU3H0Yd0zwLASpSOCiN5WSFidDI_GNaKqZ7ZiaG4o1CQ6xdw%3D%3D |journal=Nature Research |volume=9 |pages=632–636}}</ref> A variety of conservation methods applied across marine and terrestrial threatened ecosystems makes coral adaption more likely and effective.<ref name=":0" />

To eliminate destruction of corals in their indigenous regions, projects have been started to grow corals in non-tropical countries.<ref>[http://www.ecodeco.nl/html/applications.htm EcoDeco EcologicalTechnology] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307104000/http://www.ecodeco.nl/html/applications.htm|date=2011-03-07}}. Ecodeco.nl. Retrieved on 2011-11-29.</ref><ref>[http://www.koraalwetenschap.nl/content/view/277/1/ KoralenKAS project] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426021608/http://www.koraalwetenschap.nl/content/view/277/1/|date=2012-04-26}}. Koraalwetenschap.nl. Retrieved on 2011-11-29.</ref>