How We Work
Global Conservation Science
Scientific Research for Actionable Insights
Our team transforms groundbreaking research into actionable solutions, equipping communities and conservationists worldwide to protect coral reefs and enhance their ability to adapt to climate change.
We believe strong science, key alliances, and community engagement are essential to saving and supporting reefs.
Driving Solutions Through Science
Assess Coral Adaptive Capacity
Coral reefs are threatened by pollution, overfishing, and climate change. We launched cutting-edge research to understand which conservation strategies best help corals adapt to the effects of climate change. Our scientific research reveals that protecting large, diverse , and connected reef networks significantly increases their ability to adapt to warming waters. Read more about coral adaptation here.
Translate Science Into Tools
Current management approaches often lack resources to incorporate genetic data. CORAL is pioneering solutions by working to develop a globally accessible tool to estimate coral reef genetic diversity using remote sensing. This tool will empower practitioners worldwide to implement climate-smart reef management strategies.
Influence Conservation Policy
We collaborate with global partners to integrate science into conservation policy. From contributing to a framework to enhance the Mesoamerican Reef’s resilience against climate impacts, to supporting marine spatial planning in the Coral Triangle, we ensure that our research shapes impactful solutions on a global scale.
Where We Work
From Local Sites to Global Influence
Our global conservation science efforts span three oceans and numerous reef ecosystems.
A word from our conservation science director
“Coral reefs have the remarkable ability to adapt, but only if we take immediate action to protect their genetic diversity and connectivity AND substantially reduce climate emissions. Our work is about creating the tools and partnerships that support local managers and coral reefs in adapting to climate change”
– Dr. Helen Fox
Join Us in Saving Coral Reefs
Your support fuels groundbreaking science that equips communities and practitioners with the tools they need to protect coral reefs. Together, we can ensure these vital ecosystems—and the life they sustain—thrive for generations.
Scientific Articles
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Evaluating the spread of stony coral tissue loss disease in the Bay Islands, Honduras
Truc et al., 2023
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Current ecological theory predicts that random networks with dispersal shortcuts connecting distant sites can promote persistence when there is no capacity for evolution. This paper demonstrates that incorporating evolution and environmental heterogeneity fundamentally alters theoretical predictions regarding persistence in ecological networks.
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Coral conservation in a warming world must harness evolutionary adaptation
Colton et al. 2022
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To facilitate evolutionary adaptation to climate change, we must protect networks of coral reefs that span a range of environmental conditions — not just apparent ‘refugia’.
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Exploring relationships between gender and collective action in artisanal fisher associations of Central Chile
Vargas et al., 2022
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Artisanal fisher associations in Chile with women members show higher efficiency and cooperation than male-only groups. Women join for belonging, men for income, highlighting the need for gender-inclusive fisheries policies. Read More >
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[Abstract]Participation and patrols promote sustainable fisheries in the Mesoamerican Reef Region.
Rivera et al. 2022
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Here we present a case study of Los Micos Lagoon, a coastal lagoon responsible for seeding fish biomass in sites with some of the highest live coral cover in the Mesoamerican Region, the Tela Bay (Honduras) reefs.
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[Abstract] Can the Allen Coral Atlas indicate adaptive capacity of coral reefs?
Fox et al. 2022
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We explore the extent to which habitat complexity, as detected by the Atlas, can inform adaptive capacity. Beta-diversity is a common index used to assess environmental heterogeneity within natural systems, indicating the change in species/habitat composition across a landscape.
Science Videos
Our scientific work is built around collaborations. It unifies academics, nonprofits, corporate partners, and conservationists, and it bridges the gap between science and communities. Our work at the local level involves communities in science that typically occurs behind closed doors—our coral reefs are better off when we are all strengthened with more information.
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Restoring Native Forest Ecosystems in Maui, Hawaii
In the Wahikuli Watershed in Maui, Hawai‘i, the CORAL field team restores native forest ecosystems to protect coral reefs. In this location, extra sediment often moves down from the mountains and onto nearby reefs, causing stress to the corals. By adding native plant rows, the team is able to trap sediment and prevent it from
Science Stories
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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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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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From Ridge to Reef, Science to Action Across Maui Nui
Over the past year, we helped transform science into impact, growing research and relationships into measurable, on-the-ground impact. Across Maui Nui, the health of coral reefs begins far upstream. What happens on land—how water moves through wetlands and lo‘i, how coastlines are stewarded and managed, and how communities cherish their resources—directly shapes what reaches the
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How Snapshot Assessments Shape CORAL’s Next Chapter
By now, you’ve heard CORAL is in growth mode, and we’re determined to make our expansion meaningful and lasting. Our team is going to great lengths to figure out exactly where we’ll go next. And it goes far beyond spinning a globe and picking a spot at random. I sat down with our Strategic Impact
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Where We Work – The Inside Scoop on Our Reef Conservation Sites
How do we decide where to focus our efforts in saving coral reefs? It’s a question we get asked a lot, and the answer is both strategic and deeply rooted in our mission. So let’s get into it! We consider three main factors when choosing where to work – climate adaptation needs, local leadership and
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9 Game-Changing Impacts of Clean Water for Coral Reefs
Flush and forget? Not so fast. Wastewater is a bigger deal than you might think. Around the world, sewage pollutes oceans, harms coral reefs, and threatens our health. But it doesn’t have to. By connecting homes, businesses, and tourist facilities to community-supported wastewater treatment plants, we can significantly reduce the amount of harmful pollutants discharged
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Clean Water for Reefs – How Your Donation Makes A Difference
Why is clean water integral to our mission? To save coral reefs, we must address two major threats: poor water quality from land-based pollution and unsustainable fishing practices. By tackling these issues and implementing climate-smart planning, we can help coral reefs adapt to climate change. Our research shows that this is not only possible but
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Major Water Quality Issues Plaguing Coral Reefs Today
Can you imagine being constantly forced to drink, swim, and bathe in dirty, polluted water? It’s a harsh reality for many humans, yet ironically, our actions subject coral reefs to the same grim conditions. Water quality threats are a major culprit in coral decline. Among the various contaminants, untreated wastewater or sewage emerges as a
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Why Clean Water is Vital for the Future of Our Oceans
As we navigate the challenges of the 21st century, the health of our oceans remains a critical concern. Oceans cover more than 70% of our planet’s surface and are integral to life on Earth. However, the future of these vast, life-sustaining waters are increasingly threatened. Ensuring our oceans are clean is not just an environmental issue
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Coral Restoration Alone Likely Won’t Be Enough to Save Coral Reefs. That’s Why We Focus on Reducing Marine Threats
Why don’t we focus on coral restoration? It’s a question we, at CORAL, have been asked time and time again. We address overfishing, minimize water pollution, support local communities, and lead cutting-edge research on coral adaptation to climate change…but we don’t generally work on coral restoration projects. Our decision comes down to the fact that
