URI alum Jessica Vandenberg is the lead author of a new paper published in Conservation and Society, titled “Assessing Indicators and Limitations of Food Security Objectives in Coral Reef Restoration.” The paper explores the disconnect between food security objectives of reef restoration and actual coral reef marine resource dependence in local communities. Based on a case study of community-based coral reef restoration in a small island community in Indonesia, this study demonstrates that successful biological outcomes do not necessarily produce successful social outcomes, especially highly complex ones such as food security. Findings highlighted that challenges and barriers of realizing improved food security are dependent on multiple socio-cultural, political, historical, and biological factors that may vary by community and through time. The study emphasizes that social outcomes stemming from conservation programs must be directly evaluated and appropriate indicators of success established. Moreover, locally-grounded, frequent community assessments are necessary to determine appropriate indicators of restoration success and to ensure community support and long-term success.