Short Biography:
Dr Phanor H Montoya Maya is a coral reef restoration expert whose field experience began in Seychelles with the Reef Rescues project. He is the founder and former CEO of Corales de Paz, a Colombian organization focused on community-based reef restoration, and currently serves as the Restoration Program Manager at the Coral Restoration Foundation in Florida, USA. Phanor is a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) accredited by the Society for Ecological Restoration. He specializes in project design and management, grant writing, and strategic consulting to improve restoration outcomes. His work integrates cutting-edge science with practical, field-tested methodologies, ensuring that coral reef interventions are ecologically meaningful, sustainable, and resilient. Committed to advancing the field, he aligns all restoration efforts with globally recognized principles of ecological restoration, emphasizing ecological integrity, long-term sustainability, and community engagement. Phanor’s leadership continues to shape and elevate coral reef restoration practice across the globe.
Session Title: Why Bother? A Story of Coral Resilience and Renewed Hope for Reefs
Coral reefs are in crisis. The 2023 global bleaching event was the most severe in recorded history, pushing restoration practitioners to confront a difficult question: Why bother? In this plenary, Dr Phanor H Montoya Maya, Restoration Program Manager for Coral Restoration Foundation, will share a story of resilience, adaptation, and hope—centered on Carysfort Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, once the benchmark for coral health, now a proving ground for large-scale restoration.
Through a decade-long effort, CRF and its partners have reintroduced over 66,000 corals to Carysfort, testing innovative techniques to enhance reef resilience. Yet, in 2023, record-breaking ocean temperatures devastated reefs worldwide, erasing years of progress. But not everything was lost. Survivors at Carysfort provide critical insights into genetic diversity, species selection, and the scalability of restoration in the face of climate change.
This talk will explore lessons learned, scientific advancements, and the next phase of coral restoration—from applied nucleation techniques to climate-adaptive strategies. More than just a case study, Carysfort represents a global call to action: Restoration is not just about rebuilding ecosystems; it’s about sustaining coastal communities and economies. Hard does not mean impossible. This plenary will inspire practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to push boundaries, integrate science with community-driven action, and reimagine what’s possible for the future of coral reefs.