A New Funding Model Aims to Rebuild Costa Rica’s Coral Reefs

Coral reefs cover a tiny fraction of the ocean floor yet shelter roughly a quarter of all marine life, and around the world they are under pressure from warming seas and pollution. On June 18, 2026, the California-based nonprofit SeaTrees introduced a fresh idea for funding their recovery: “Coral Biodiversity Blocks,” a model that lets individuals and companies pay directly for measurable reef restoration. The first project targets the reefs of Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, one of the most biologically intense corners of the planet.

Working with the Costa Rican nonprofit Raising Coral, SeaTrees plans to plant 4,000 corals across two reef systems — the Golfo Dulce and the waters around the Caño Island Biological Reserve — between 2026 and 2029. These are not empty seascapes: the area is home to more than 200 species of reef fish, plus sea turtles, whale sharks, hammerhead sharks and visiting humpback whales. The restoration aims for an average biodiversity uplift of 34%, meaning more fish, more species and a livelier reef where corals are replanted.

“On June 18, 2026, the California-based nonprofit SeaTrees introduced a fresh idea for funding their recovery: “Coral Biodiversity Blocks,” a model that lets individuals and companies pay directly for measurable reef restoration.”

What makes the approach notable is how it ties money to outcomes. Each “block” costs $40, with 4,000 credits issued in 2026, and progress is tracked using 3D reef modeling developed by the Sandin Lab at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. That turns restoration from a vague promise into something that can be counted and verified. “Biodiversity Blocks provide a scalable financial model that measures positive impact for reefs and communities,” said SeaTrees co-founder Kevin Whilden.

For the Costa Rican partners, the work is also about resolve. “Resilience is not just something you hope for; it’s something you build,” said Raising Coral manager Marylaura Sandoval. That spirit reflects a broader shift in ocean conservation: rather than only mourning what reefs are losing, restoration groups are actively rebuilding them, coral by coral, and inviting the public to help pay for it. If the model works on the Osa Peninsula, it offers a template that could be repeated on struggling reefs far beyond Costa Rica.