The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

The whimsical names of corals—bubble, staghorn, starburst and brain—hint at their spectacular appearance, but not necessarily at their true value. As the largest living structures on the planet, coral reefs are also among the greatest storehouses of biodiversity on Earth.

Coral reefs are also one of the most threatened marine systems. Scientists estimate that unless we take immediate action, we could lose up to 70 percent of coral reefs by 2050.