Coral reef restoration strategies use natural and anthropogenic processes to restore damaged coral reefs. Coral reefs are important buffers between the land and water and help to reduce storm damage and coastal erosion. They provide employment, recreational opportunities and they are a major source of food for coastal communities. As coral reefs become threatened new methods for restoring their ecosystems are being investigated. Fragmentation is the most common strategy for restoring reefs, often used to establish artificial reefs like coral trees, line nurseries, and fixed structures.