The Coral Reef Rescue Initiative is a global programme working to safeguard globally-significant coral reefs and the benefits they provide against climate change and other threats. We are on course to lose up to 90% by 2050 and all coral reefs by the end of the century. Around 70% of climate-resilient coral reefs can be found in just 7 countries. They have the potential to give us a foothold in the recovery of coral reefs, which could lead to regeneration on a global scale.

As the project develops stakeholders from the 7 countries will need effective methods to communicate, access and share knowledge. The Knowledge Hub is an online forum and repository for curated resources. It allows action to be coordinated between the 7 initiatives, knowledge to be shared between individuals and for data to be published publicly.

We have also created a proof of concept for a climate and ocean data visualisation platform. A place for the 7 countries to benefit from early warning data on a map and be able to see what action is needed to protect the reef. A vision for this risk forecast has been made in the form of a wireframe that will be fully designed and implemented at the next phase of the project, with the users.

Lead by WWF, this initiative is based on a network of partnerships that include scientists, NGOs and influential partners who work in collaboration with governments and communities to safeguard reefs, food security, and livelihoods against climate change.

Key partners include The University of Queensland, WCS, Rare, Care International, Blue Ventures and Arizona State University Centre for Global Discovery and Conservation Science. The development of the knowledge hub has been led by the University of Queensland who specialise in coral reef research and CRRI Chief Scientist Ove Hoegh-Guldberg a world-renowned expert in Marine Science.

This project is being approached in phases, we have released the first part of the project and started designing the second phase. This allows us to be reactive to the changing needs of the team as the project grows.

We have been careful not to build too much of the infrastructure for the project before we are able to involve the users and truly understand their needs.