Maria Camila Santos

Colombian marine biologist restoring coral reefs through community-driven conservation

Reviving Caribbean Coral Reefs

Maria Camila Santos (b. 1992) is a Colombian marine scientist leading coral restoration efforts in the Caribbean. As director of the Corales Vivos Project, she has pioneered coral farming techniques that have restored 12km of reefs in Colombia's Pacific coast by 2024.

Innovative Coral Farming

Her breakthrough methods include:

• 3D-printed coral nurseries made from recycled ocean plastics
• Acid-resistant coral strains developed with MIT researchers
• Community-based reef monitoring apps

In 2021, her team achieved a 75% survival rate for transplanted corals - double the regional average - published in Nature Sustainability.

Community Engagement Programs

Maria's Guardianes del Mar initiative trains local fishermen in:

• Sustainable fishing practices
• Coral nursery maintenance
• Eco-tourism management

Over 200 families now earn 60% more income through reef conservation activities compared to traditional fishing (2023 World Bank report).

Global Recognition

Her work secured $3.2M in grants from the WWF and Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 2022. In 2024, she was named:

• UNESCO Young Scientist of the Year
• Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential List

Her coral restoration model is now being replicated in Panama and Costa Rica.