The Gujarat Ecological Education Research (GEER) foundation is developing a protocol for transplantation of corals in Gulf of Kutch which would help in restoration and conservation of those species which existed in this region some time ago, but have now become endangered.

This pilot project which is part of the state's Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan (ICZMP) would include selection of restoration sites, selection of species, identifying source population of coral species and their transportation to the sites.

Based on the results of project, GEER Foundation, would develop a protocol for transplantation of corals and transfer of the methodology and techniques for coral reef restoration to the Marine National Park authorities for conservation of the endangered species.

GEER Foundation is an autonomous body set up by state government's department of forests and environment and has long-term active involvement in the field of marine biodiversity research on the coastline of Gujarat.

"Basically this is to restore coral species that were there in Gulf of Kutch region long time ago and are non existent now," Director GEER, Bharat Pathak told PTI.

"This pilot project is for learning about coral transplantation and in the process develop a protocol through experiments," he said.

Pathak said a team working on the project has already begun field work by collecting ecological and habitat related data from the Gulf of Kutch region.

"Initially we were contemplating transplantation of three species but only after completion of data collection and some experiments we would be able to finalise the species," he said adding that over 48 species of corals have been identified in the Gulf of Kutch region.