On the island of Sainte-Marie, off the east coast of Madagascar, we are restoring coral reefs that shelter exceptional marine biodiversity yet remain fragile and largely unprotected.

The urgency is real. Climate change, overfishing and the degradation of coastal ecosystems are silently threatening reefs that have, for generations, fed local communities, protected coastlines and made this island one of the Indian Ocean’s greatest marine treasures.

Led directly by The Coral Planters, this project reflects our commitment across the Indian Ocean. On the island of Sainte-Marie, we collect fragments from healthy colonies, fix them onto submerged structures and monitor their growth to understand what this reef can give, and how to restore it durably alongside the communities who live from it.

Together, we plant corals, track their evolution and share our learnings not only to revitalise degraded reefs, but also to build the foundations of a lasting relationship between the island’s inhabitants and their ocean.

These reefs are more than underwater landscapes. They are a living heritage. A source of resilience in the face of climate change. A foundation for local livelihoods. And a powerful reminder that protecting the ocean must take root in the daily lives of the men and women who depend on it.