Mónica Mora Quezada

Peruvian marine biologist leading coral reef restoration in the face of climate change

Mónica Mora (b. 1975) is a Peruvian marine scientist whose innovative coral restoration techniques have revitalized 200+ hectares of degraded reefs in the Galápagos Islands. Her work began in 1999 when she documented alarming coral bleaching rates caused by rising ocean temperatures. Developing the ECOR project, she created a method using 3D-printed coral structures that accelerate reef regeneration by 400%. This approach has been adopted by the Ecuadorian government for their marine conservation programs.

Mora's research on symbiotic algae cultivation has been published in Nature and ScienceDirect journals. She co-founded the Ocean Hope Alliance, training 300+ local technicians in sustainable marine practices. Her coral restoration protocols are now used in restoration projects from Panama to Fiji. Mora was awarded the 2020 Global Green Hero Award for her climate resilience work.