As one of the largest global NGOs focused exclusively on coral reefs, and as a leader in the science of coral reef conservation, we build partnerships to address global threats to reefs and ensure their protection.
Global threats. Global research. Global partnership.
We believe in the power of science. We lead ground-breaking research to understand exactly how corals adapt—and that research tells us that corals can adapt to climate change if we keep a variety of reef types healthy and if climate emissions are brought under control.
Through our Global Conservation Science program, we:
Spearhead research
We launch cutting-edge research to understand which conservation strategies best help corals adapt to the effects of climate change, including warming ocean temperatures.
Inform conservation
We know it will take a global village to save coral reefs—that’s why we partner with other NGOs, scientists, and policy makers to turn our research into action, giving corals the best chance of surviving.
Build alliances
We work with partners like the Allen Coral Atlas to ground-truth satellite-based technology and use it to address global threats to reefs, like coral bleaching.
Share knowledge
We share resources, research, lessons learned, and successes with communities and conservationists around the world to keep evolution at the forefront of conservation strategies.
Global Stories
3 Win-Win Approaches to Address Climate Change AND Save Coral Reefs
By Ben Charo, Global Conservation Science Program Coordinator Coral reefs face a difficult and uncertain future. According to a recent UN climate report, the Earth is currently on track to warm by 2.5 degrees Celsius by 2100, enough to wipe out 99% of reefs. We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 50% in the… Continue Reading →
Scientists Believe Evolution Could Save Coral Reefs, If We Let It
Research shows protecting “hot reefs” is key to saving coral reefs OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – September 16, 2022 – Coral reefs can adapt to climate change if given the chance to evolve, according to a study led by Coral Reef Alliance, Rutgers University, the University of Washington and other institutions. The recent study, published in the… Continue Reading →
Could Underwater Thermometers Help Save Coral Reefs from Climate Change?
Forty underwater temperature loggers now sit underwater on coral reefs across the Bay Islands in Honduras. Their purpose? To identify the temperature range that corals can withstand and typically experience within a year. These ONSET TidBits, as they’re known, measure water temperatures every minute and store the data internally. Every four to five months, a… Continue Reading →
The Great Barrier Reef is Hit With Another Mass Bleaching Event. Here’s How We’re Responding
Another widespread bleaching event has begun, and all eyes are focused on the Great Barrier Reef. This is the sixth mass bleaching event impacting Australia’s famous reefs and is driven largely by the planet’s rising ocean temperatures. In recent weeks, field scientists and marine park authorities have reported signs of minor to severe bleaching on… Continue Reading →
Our 2022 Impact: Protecting Coral Reefs that Can Adapt to Climate Change
Could a map be used to estimate the likelihood that a coral reef can adapt to climate change? That’s one of the biggest questions driving our Global Conservation Science team these days. In collaboration with the Allen Coral Atlas (the Atlas), a global map and monitoring system for shallow water coral reefs, we are leading… Continue Reading →
Halloween is Almost Here…but it’s Climate Change that Should Really Scare You
It’s October, a time when eerie legends come alive and the world’s most frightening monsters are out to play. But among the goblins, ghosts, and creepy clowns, here at CORAL, there’s a different type of beast that truly spooks us—climate change. Sure, climate change doesn’t look like a typical monster. It doesn’t have fangs like… Continue Reading →
The Allen Coral Atlas Introduces the First Comprehensive Map of Shallow Water Coral Reefs
On September 8, 2021, it was officially announced that a comprehensive map and monitoring system of the world’s shallow water coral reefs, the Allen Coral Atlas, was completed. This tremendous effort was led by Arizona State University in collaboration with scientists, universities, private entities, and NGOs across the globe—including the Coral Reef Alliance. The tool… Continue Reading →
New Research Turns Basic Ecological Theory on its Head
In a lot of ways, corals are like trees—they stay rooted in one spot their whole lives, and they disperse their young into the environment. With many trees, their young typically fall to the ground and stay relatively close. But with corals, their young are moved by ocean currents that can carry them thousands of… Continue Reading →
Uniting A Global Coral Bleaching Response Network
Coral bleaching events make headlines every year. And each year, bleaching events have become more frequent and severe. Take Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, for example: In the last five years, the reef has been hit by three record-breaking coral bleaching events—one in 2016, one in 2017 and another in 2020. But the Allen Coral Atlas… Continue Reading →
Could satellite-based technology save coral reefs?
Atlases and maps are helpful for planning trips and exploring geography, but researchers believe they may also serve another, more important purpose: Identifying priority coral reef conservation areas. With a new three-year $300,000 grant from Lyda Hill Philanthropies, the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) and partners can begin to test their hypothesis that satellite-based imagery and… Continue Reading →
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