We invite you to join us in revisiting the standout moments that made 2023 a year to remember. And to get the full scoop on our collective impact, sign up for our 2023 Impact Report. We’ll drop it in your inbox as soon as it’s ready.

New Faces

This year, our team welcomed fresh perspectives and exceptional talents that have enriched our collective journey. We’re stoked to celebrate the vibrant individuals who joined our ranks, bringing diverse skills, unique insights, and a shared dedication to our mission. 

Our growth extends beyond accomplishments—it’s a reflection of the ever-expanding tapestry of talent and expertise that defines our organization. Join us in welcoming the new voices, skills, and perspectives that have become integral threads in the fabric of our success.

Allie Coleman, Grants Manager

Kate Beebe, Associate Marketing Director

Kat Kelly, Marketing Coordinator

Sarah Severino, Maui Nui Program Manager

Joy Millheim, Virtual Assistant

Cailey Oros, Virtual Assistant

Meet our team >

Fresh Content

Keep reading for our standout articles of 2023 – the hidden treasures in our ocean of content that have defined our year.

Coral Bleaching: Toolkit & Comprehensive Guide

Thanks to our Global Conservation Science team, we have given everyone the opportunity to participate in the recovery of coral reefs during bleaching events. As climate change warms our oceans, we know corals can adapt, but only if we let them.

Read more about the guide here >

Guides and Protocols in the Western Caribbean

Our team in the Western Caribbean was busy in 2023! We all know access to clean water is essential for life, and coral reefs are no different. Securing clean water for reefs is a foundational effort here at CORAL, and our team created the Marine Water Quality Protocol for the Mesoamerican Reef System. 

Check out the protocol here >

Lobster and Conch Protocol

In addition to clean water, coral reefs thrive from their symbiotic relationships with the creatures around them. In the spirit of sustainable fishing practices, our team has also worked diligently on preserving lobsters and conchs, of which both are equally ecologically important for coral reef ecosystems.

Read about the upcoming lobster and conch protocol here >

Protecting Molokai’s Coral Reefs with the Restoration of Ancient Hawaiian Fish Ponds

In 2023 we officially kicked off our partnership with Ka Honua Momona (KHM) in Molokai. KHM staff have lineal ties to this beautiful place and have kuleana (responsibility) in caring for Alii and Kalokoeli fishponds, which are community treasures and sources of education, food, cultural renewal, and connection.

As a result of this project’s efforts to improve habitat for fish and wildlife, we anticipate a simultaneous enhancement of community resilience.

Click to read more about our newest partnership in Molokai >

Coral Reefs in a Changing Climate: Expanding to the Coral Triangle

Unfortunately, coral reefs are also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and more frequent and intense storms. This has led to a decline in the health and resilience of many coral reefs, which in turn has negatively impacted the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on them for food, income, and cultural identity.

To address these challenges, a team of researchers from University of Leeds (UK), Coral Reef Alliance (USA), Rare (Philippines & Indonesia), Pattimura University (Indonesia), and many other partners are launching a project in the Philippines and Indonesia.

Read more about our expansion into the Coral Triangle >

Welcoming in 2024

A huge shoutout to everyone who joined us on our incredible journey throughout the past year. Your support, energy, and passion were the driving forces behind every success we celebrated.

As we navigate the new year, we’re buzzing with anticipation for the impact we’ll create together. With fresh challenges and opportunities to safeguard our marine ecosystems, your role in this journey is more vital than ever.

Keep an eye out for our 2023 Impact Report to see the amazing strides we made together. Let’s dive into 2024 with a renewed sense of purpose and dedication. Here’s to continuing our mission and making even bigger waves this year.

The post 2023 Year in Review, Ocean-Style appeared first on Coral Reef Alliance.

According to a World Bank report, an additional 68 to 135 million people could be pushed into poverty by 2030 because of climate change. As more frequent marine heatwaves endanger the livelihoods and food security of about 1 billion people globally who benefit from coral reef ecosystems, evidence-based adaptation strategies are paramount to ensuring biodiversity protection and sustainable use. Currently, management approaches mostly target reefs less exposed to heat stress but ignore biological and social adaptation that can reduce the risks that climate change poses to sustainable ocean livelihoods.

Climate REEFS will help solve this problem by identifying adaptive reefs from space and by characterizing the social vulnerabilities of different stakeholders, particularly women and marginalized groups. The project will quantify how reef structure predicts species and genetic diversity, which likely links to a reef’s capacity to adapt to climate change. It also aims to develop socially equitable, context-specific climate adaptation pathways.

“Climate REEFS will implement social research to identify the climate vulnerability of coastal communities together with gender and socially inclusive adaptation pathways, geospatial research to detect adaptive reefs from satellite-derived data, and ecological and genomic research to pilot an analysis that tests the interplay of climate change-adaptiveness from genes to people,” said Dr. Maria Beger, University of Leeds, and lead PI of the project. 

“The impacts of climate change are not felt evenly across genders and geographies. It is particularly important to understand how degraded coral reefs are impacting women and other marginalized groups in the Asia Pacific so we can design climate adaptation strategies that support all members of a community,” said Rocky Sanchez Tirona, Managing Director of Rare’s Fish Forever program.

The project aims to work both on local and national levels towards sustainable climate-smart coastal fishing livelihoods. “Climate REEFS will help people in the village get information on the health of their reefs, how they are used, and help develop policies about their future use. Most fishers never see the reef so they don’t realise their impact,” said Professor Gino Limmon, Director of Maritime and Marine Science Center of Excellence at the Pattimura University.

“It is exciting to have this multi-disciplinary team coming together to conduct innovative research that will inform policy and management as well as strengthen science capacity in Indonesia and the Philippines,” said Dr. Helen Fox, Conservation Science Director of the Coral Reef Alliance.  

Climate REEFS is part of CLARE’s first cohort of projects. CLARE is a £110m, UK-Canada framework research programme on Climate Adaptation and Resilience, aiming to enable socially inclusive and sustainable action to build resilience to climate change and natural hazards. CLARE is an initiative jointly designed and run by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and Canada’s International Development Research Centre. CLARE is primarily funded by UK aid from the UK government, along with the International Development Research Centre, Canada.  The project is also funded through FCDO’s £154m COAST programme, which is part of the UK’s £500m Blue Planet Fund portfolio. COAST aims to support climate change adaptation and more prosperous, sustainable, and resilient coastal economies, focusing on protecting and restoring coastal habitats, strengthening the sustainability and climate resilience of small-scale fisheries, unlocking more sustainable aquaculture production, and driving inclusive coastal governance and planning.

Media Contacts:
Kathryn Ashman (comms), Dr. Maria Beger, University of Leeds, K.Ashman@leeds.ac.uk M.Beger@leeds.ac.uk
Zach Lowe, Rare, ZLowe@rare.org
Prandito Simanjuntak, Universitas Pattimura, pranditosimanjuntak@gmail.com  
Kate Beebe, CORAL (Coral Reef Alliance), KBeebe@coral.org

The post “Climate REEFS” Initiative Launched to Advance Equitable Pathways to Climate Adaptation in Asia Pacific appeared first on Coral Reef Alliance.

For those who are new to our cause, we invite you to be a vital force in protecting coral reefs in 2024 and beyond. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the health of coral reefs.

Let’s explore the concrete outcomes your contributions will bring in 2024:

Your Gift Promotes Clean Water for Reefs and Coastal Communities

Clean ocean water is crucial for the flourishing of coral reefs and the well-being of people. That’s why your support will scale-up our water quality programs in 2024.

In early 2024 we will be sharing the success story of our wastewater pilot project in West End, Roatan with communities across the Western Caribbean.  We are hosting an in-person summit to gather support of funders, development banks, and government stakeholders so that we can scale. We will also be launching an on-line toolkit and guide so that communities have resources to set the stage for large-scale infrastructure improvements. Over the next 6-8 years, while we are building relationships and funding to scale globally, we’ll apply the lessons learned from our successful wastewater pilot project to enhance water quality in 5-7 communities across the Western Caribbean and Hawaii. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that 80% of coastal communities with priority coral reefs have wastewater treatment in place, guaranteeing clean waters for both the reefs and the people who rely on them.

Your Gift Strengthens Sustainable Fisheries 

Coral reefs only thrive when they have healthy fish populations, which keep algal growth in check and provide nutrients for coral growth. That’s why we focus on reducing unsustainable fishing practices.

In 2024 we will be focused on ensuring that all of the marine protected areas (MPAs) and coastal environments where we currently work are appropriately resourced with real-time fisheries data, effective patrols to minimize illegal activities, funding strategies, and proper management plans.  This is critically important over the next year so that coral reefs bounce back from bleaching events. At the same time, we’ll be working towards bold goals to establish newly protected areas. Our ultimate goal is to create networks of effectively managed marine environments that are critical for healthy fisheries and resilient coastal communities.

Your Gift Enhances Coral Resilience to Climate Change 

Our science shows that coral reefs can adapt to climate change if we curb carbon emissions and reduce local threats to coral reefs. Science also shows that greater genetic variability will help corals adapt to these warming temperatures—which is why it is important to protect a wide network of corals, so those that become more heat tolerant can spread their genes.

CORAL is pioneering groundbreaking research with global partners to create a satellite-based tool that can monitor and predict the health and adaptability of coral reefs from space. Success in this endeavor would enable us to offer this innovative tool globally, empowering under-resourced communities with a cost-free resource to streamline their conservation efforts and decision-making processes.

To expand our impact, we’re collaborating with scientists, conservationists, universities, and organizations to share our adaptation research findings and advocate for solutions that harness the power of evolution. Your generosity allows us to build stronger partnerships in the scientific community and contribute to 30 x 30 (30% of oceans protected by 2023) initiatives across the globe.

Your Gift Helps Reduce Sediment Impact on Coral Reefs

In 2024 we will be taking all of the best management practices from our successful watershed restoration project in Maui and expand what we learned to new watersheds and partnerships. We’re collaborating with Ridge to Reef to strengthen their efforts, secure funding, and prioritize sediment reduction across the state.

Our ultimate objective is to share our insights and best practices more broadly across the Hawaiian Islands and the South Pacific. This way, we can assist communities and regions on a larger scale, making a substantial impact on the health of our coral reefs.

Your Gift Supports Our Long-Term Vision

Our ultimate goal long-term vision is to establish diverse, connected, large, and well-managed networks of coral reefs with sustainable fish populations and improved water quality. This means healthier and more resilient oceans for everyone, today and for generations to come.

You can be a part of this transformative mission by donating today. Your unwavering support drives our work, and we invite you to be a vital force in protecting coral reefs in 2024 and beyond. Stay updated with our progress by  signing up for our e-newsletter. Together, we can make a lasting impact on these critical ecosystems.

The post Where Your Donation Will Go in 2024 appeared first on Coral Reef Alliance.

Unfortunately, coral reefs are also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and more frequent and intense storms. This has led to a decline in the health and resilience of many coral reefs, which in turn has negatively impacted the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on them for food, income, and cultural identity.

To address these challenges, a team of researchers from University of Leeds (UK), Coral Reef Alliance (USA), Rare (Philippines & Indonesia), Pattimura University (Indonesia), and many other partners are launching a project in the Philippines and Indonesia.

These two nations are part of “The Coral Triangle” – a region in the western Pacific Ocean that is known for its incredible marine biodiversity and rich coral reef ecosystems. It is often referred to as the “Amazon of the Seas” due to its vast array of marine life and is considered one of the most important and diverse marine regions on Earth.

Our Project

The new project is called Climate REEFS: Integrating Risks, Evolution, and socio-Economics for Fisheries Sustainability.

Led by Dr. Maria Beger of University of Leeds, Rocky Sanchez-Tirona of Rare, Dr. Gino Limmon of Pattimura University, and Dr. Helen Fox of CORAL, the project will focus on climate change adaptation for both coral reefs and the coastal communities that depend on them. In particular, Climate REEFS aims to both develop techniques to identify adaptive reefs using remote sensing technologies and characterize how gender and social status shape socio-economic vulnerabilities and the ability to adapt to reef degradation.

Its ultimate goal is to strengthen community capacity for sustainable fisheries and to improve management of coral reef marine protected areas (MPAs).

Climate REEFS will involve a range of activities, including social science research to identify climate vulnerability and gender- and socially inclusive adaptation pathways. It also involves geospatial research to detect adaptive reefs from satellite-derived data, as well as ecological and genomic research to pilot an analysis that tests the interplay of adaptiveness from genes to people.

All activities will be conducted at a small scale, with the goal of training the team in key research techniques and identifying policy opportunities that will enable future expansion.

Convening in the Philippines 

Climate REEFS officially kicked off in the city of Cebu, the Philippines, where partners met from July 3 – 5 to discuss major work packages, finalize project timelines, and flesh out plans for the start of gathering data in the field, among other agenda items.

The project team is currently working to select field sites for ecological coral reef surveys off the island of Leyte in the Philippines and is also working with nearby coastal communities. It’s expected that similar efforts will begin off the island of Ambon, Indonesia in October.  

Expanding our Presence in the Coral Triangle

You can help us expand our work in the Coral Triangle by following the Climate REEFS project and sharing about it with friends, family, and followers. The more people who know about this work, the better. We’re confident this sharing of knowledge will influence how other communities manage their coral reef resources and influence donors to fund coral conservation and science.

The post Coral Reefs in a Changing Climate: Expanding to the Coral Triangle appeared first on Coral Reef Alliance.