Madagascar's largest port expansion project will destroy 25 hectares of coral reefs containing 15 different species, environmental assessments show, reports Mongabay.

Local NGO Tany Ifandovana has transplanted 5,000 coral colonies to a nearby islet, achieving 60-80% survival rates. However, the initiative has restored only 1.6% of the threatened area at the Toamasina port, which handles 90% of the country's international cargo.

The conservation project, operating without direct support from port authorities, continues to seek private sector funding while advocating for protected status at the transplantation site.