• Hawaiian coast line, mountains and sea

    What is a Riparian Zone?

    A riparian zone is the area of land alongside rivers, streams, and other freshwater systems where water and land meet. These spaces are often lined with native vegetation, including trees, shrubs, grasses, and wetlands that help stabilize soil and support biodiversity. Riparian zones may seem far removed from coral reefs, but they are deeply connected.…

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  • Sunset over the ocean

    What Does El Niño Mean for Coral Reefs?

    In 1997-8, a powerful El Niño event spread across the Pacific Ocean, driving record-breaking sea surface temperatures and triggering the first documented global coral bleaching event. Reefs from the Indian Ocean to the Caribbean experienced widespread stress, and in some regions, significant coral mortality followed. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this…

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  • A vibrant and thriving coral reef teeming with life

    Coral Diversity, Where Adaptation Begins [Photo Gallery]

    Think of a coral reef as a bustling city, full of unique homes, buildings, and landscapes. And with that, unique residents who all serve different purposes. This diversity is key to any city. The same is true underwater. The diversity of corals—along with the fish, invertebrates, and algae that live among them—is what keeps reef…

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  • Aerial view of a coral reef ecosystem, showing intricate reef formations beneath clear ocean water

    Why Connected Reefs Matter for the Future of Coral Conservation

    Coral reefs are facing more pressure than ever, specifically warming oceans, land-based pollution, and overfishing. But despite these growing challenges, reefs still have an incredible capacity to adapt. The key is making sure they’re healthy, connected, and supported at scale. At the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL), our conservation strategy focuses on building connected reef networks—large,…

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  • CORAL scientist, Sarah Severino, tests water turbidity in Molokai

    How Coral Adaptation Works and Why It Matters for Reef Survival [Video]

    Coral reefs are changing. Warmer oceans, polluted water, and shifting ecosystems are rewriting the conditions reefs have depended on for thousands of years. What often gets lost in that conversation is this: corals are not static and some even have the genetic ability to adapt. At the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL), adaptation is not a…

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  • Crystal clear ocean water and sunny, blue skies at Scotts Head Marine Reserve in Dominica

    CORAL’s Expansion into the Eastern Caribbean

    By Zach Hoffman When I joined the Coral Reef Alliance, I knew our work spanned some of the most important coral reef ecosystems in the world. But knowing that on paper is very different from standing on the shore of one of those places for the first time. My first visit to CORAL’s Eastern Caribbean…

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