A pioneering project to restore the nearly extinct shellfish reefs that once protected Australia's coasts has been named as a World Restoration Flagship by the United Nations.
The UN announcement recognises Reef Builder, a partnership between The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Australian Government, as one of the planet's most ambitious, science-based, and inspiring examples of large-scale ecosystem restoration in action.
Since 2021, the Reef Builder project has established native oyster and mussel reefs at 21 sites around Australia, jumpstarting the restoration of an ecosystem that once covered a third of the country's coastline. These reefs filtered billions of litres of seawater and reduced wave damage, before dredging and overharvesting last century wiped out more than 90% of them.
"For thousands of years, native oyster and mussel reefs filtered and cleaned Australia's waters, acting as the 'kidneys of the ocean'," said TNC's Australia Country Director Lara Gallagher.
"But over the past century, more than 90% of these reefs have disappeared due to dredging and overharvest, rendering the ecosystem functionally extinct and leaving our oceans and coastlines vulnerable. Reef Builder is bringing this critically important ecosystem back to life.
"Receiving the UN World Restoration Flagship designation is an incredible honour that reflects the dedication and passion of the entire team. It means the world to us.
"By restoring our lost shellfish reefs, we can give our oceans the kidney transplant they so desperately need, and safeguard businesses, jobs, communities, and our precious marine life."
Australia's largest marine restoration initiative to date, Reef Builder and subsequent efforts have restored 64 hectares of shellfish reefs at 21 sites across southern and eastern Australia's coastline, from Perth in Western Australia to Noosa, Queensland. The project has been supported by funding from the Australian Government, state governments, corporate partners and generous philanthropists.
