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The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco,California, that partners with local reef communities around the world to protect coral reefs. CORAL was founded in Berkeley, California, in 1994 by Stephan Colwell, and is currently headed by Brian Huse. With 19% of the world's coral reefs already destroyed and another 35% at immediate risk or threatened due to human pressures organizations like CORAL are addressing an urgent need in the global ecosystem.

History
The orginization was founded in 1994 in Berkeley, California by Stephan Colwell. The Coral Reef Alliance, better known as CORAL was founded in attempt the slow the destruction of coral reefs spread throughout the world. After the first documentation of the significant decline of reefs due to human activities, CORAL was established to engage the diving community to protect the reefs. In 1995 CORAL started their first website to help expand communitcation and news feed. Shortley after they partnered with the Palau Conservation Society (grant of $72,000) to support protection of Rock Island Marine Park. After a year or two Colwell decided to start a membership program to increase charitable income to help with differnet activities around the globe. In 1997 the Coral Reef Alliance was selected to appear in a 30-minute PBS documentary entitled The Visionaries, filmed on Palau Island, Micronesia. The show documented CORAL's work to promote coral reef conservation and was distributed to 175 television markets across the country to be aired four times throughout each market. The year 2009 marked the 15 year anniversary for the Coral Reef Alliance.

Organization
The Coral Reef Alliance or CORAL is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. They depend on the support of individual donors, foundations, and corporate and government grants to build grassroots conservation partnerships among local community members, government leaders, and marine recreation providers in seven field locations around the world. CORAL currently has six coral reef locations around the world. Many of Coral's employees are stationed around the world in countries like: Indonesia, Fiji, Belize, Honduras, Mexico, and some states of the United States. The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) is the only international organization working exclusively to unite communities to protect our planet’s coral reefs. The Global Coral Reef Alliance or GCRA is the world wide effort of the orginization. GCRA scientists work with foundations, governments or private firms to build, restore and maintain coral reefs, nurseries and marine sanctuaries. Projects include restoration and construction of coral reefs for mariculture and tourism as well as breakwaters for shore protection.

Activism
The Coral Reef Alliance engages in many differnt protest and confrontations to protect marine wildlife.CORAL promotes conservation through our Coral Reef Sustainable Destination (CRSD) approach, a holistic model that combines marine protected area (MPA) management and sustainable business operation for community benefit. CORAL's efforts groups have been focusing their attention to the Coral Triangle just south of Micronesia.Their protest have included protests against fish poaching, destruction of coral reefs, chemical and trash dumps into the coastal area. CORAL's active leaders have resolute in maintaining a peaceful standpoint in at tempt to avoid violent confrontations.