Reefs of Hope: Coral Conservation Gains Ground in the Dominican Republic

Reefs of Hope follows a real, high-pressure coral restoration effort unfolding off the coast of the Dominican Republic, where marine biologists attempt to slow reef collapse using assisted coral fertilization. Set against rising ocean temperatures, sediment runoff, and shrinking ecological margins, the story documents a fragile intervention aimed at preserving reefs that protect coastlines, sustain fisheries, and support tourism. The narrative avoids optimism and spectacle, focusing instead on process, limits, and consequence. What emerges is not a rescue story, but a grounded account of science operating under time pressure in an environment already pushed close to failure.