Working Together To Keep Coral Reefs Alive

The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) is a member-supported nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting coral reefs worldwide by integrating ecosystem management, sustainable tourism, and community partnerships.

At CORAL, we

  • work with communities to identify and solve conservation challenges;
  • change attitudes and behavior through education and training;
  • provide resources to strengthen marine protected areas; and
  • create incentives for sustainable tourism.

With even greater biodiversity than rain forests, coral reefs provide spawning, nursery, refuge, and feeding areas for more than 1 million aquatic species including fish, marine mammals, sponges, worms, mollusks, sea turtles, sea stars, spiny lobsters, and more. This extraordinary diversity is an invaluable resource for scientific research with the potential to provide raw materials for lifesaving medical treatments. Coral reefs also play an important role as natural breakwaters to minimize wave damage from cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons, and tsunamis. More than 100 human cultures depend on coral reefs for food, income, and protection.

In their modern form, coral reefs have thrived on Earth for more than 50 million years. Recently, however, more than 20 percent of the world's reefs have been lost, and 50 percent of the remaining reefs are in jeopardy of collapse if we do not take action now.

Reefs at Risk
World Resources Institute: Coral Reefs Classified by Potential Threats
Reef Ball Foundation: Threats to Coral Reefs Worldwide