The Coral Reef Targeted Research & Capacity Building for Management (CRTR) Program is addressing gaps in our basic knowledge and understanding of coral reef ecosystems, so that management options and policy interventions can be strengthened globally. 

The Program’s goal is to: “Build the scientific capacity needed to provide information essential for management and policy, so that coral reef ecosystems under threat from climate change and multiple human stressors can be sustained for current and future generations”.

The Program will:

• Align the expertise and resources of the global coral reef community around key research questions related to the resilience and vulnerability of coral reef ecosystems.
• Integrate the results and disseminate them in formats readily accessible to managers and decision-makers.

The CRTR Program is organised around six key themes, which will be investigated by interdisciplinary teams (working groups) of developing and developed country scientists.

These are:

1. Bleaching & Local Ecological Effects
2. Connectivity
3. Disease
4. Restoration & Remediation
5. Remote Sensing
6. Modeling & Decision Support

CRTR Program partners include the Global Environment Facility (GEF), World Bank (WB), The University of Queensland (UQ), United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), UNESCO-Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO) and approximately 50 research institutes & other third parties around the world.