A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the Earth’s surface, yet they harbor 25% of all marine fish species. Coral reefs create highly diverse and productive habitats that provide key ecosystem and environmental services, including food, shelter, livelihood, medicine, and cultural values to billions of people globally.

The impact of rising sea level, combined with more frequent and severe storms, threaten coastlines and coastal communities worldwide. Extreme storm surges can raise local sea levels several meters through severe wind, waves, and atmospheric pressure conditions. The exposure of people and assets to coastal risks has grown rapidly, and this trend is expected to continue. Flooding and erosion also cause significant economic impacts. For example, in the last 30 years, the amount of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) annually affected by tropical cyclones has increased by more than US$1.5 trillion. Insurers alone have paid out more than US$300 billion for coastal damages from storms in the past 10 years, with payments often going towards rebuilding similar coastal infrastructure that is equally vulnerable to coastal storms and flooding. By 2050, flood damage in the world’s coastal cities is expected to cost US$1 trillion a year. (The Nature Conservancy).

Coral reefs worldwide are threatened with overfishing, pollution, coastal development, habitat degradation and climate change. The threats of climate change and ocean acidification loom ominously for the future, but local stressors including an explosion in tourism, overfishing, and the resulting increase in macroalgae have been the major drivers of the catastrophic decline of Caribbean corals up to the present.

The loss of coastal habitats that offer protection from shoreline hazards, land subsidence, and the accelerated pace of coastal development and population growth are increasing the number of people and properties at risk. A recent global analysis projected population growth in the low-elevation coastal zone from 625 million (year 2000) to 1.4 billion people by 2060. Thus, the lives and wellbeing of over a billion people are at risk.

Using science, we aim incubate strong, resilient corals to rebuild ecosystems in our ocean. In a laboratory, we can train and assist the evolution of coral to be strong against the rising temperatures. We will do this by mimicking the future conditions of the ocean in a lab, thus training the coral to survive. In a coral nursery, we can grow coral 50x the natural rate, creating coral the size (and strength) of a 25-year old in only 6 months! Our projects will be rooted in science-based solutions, radical collaboration and community support. We provide opportunities for education and participation. We curate experiences open to everyone. If we dream big, we can make the impossible possible.

Their decline of coral indicates that our ecosystem is out of balance. However, it is not only the coral that we are focused on - Beyond Coral received its name because we are dedicated to saving the coral and also its related ecosystems, which includes humans, water systems, mangroves, fish, birds, and many of the other coastal inhabitants. We must go above and beyond to protect our future, and Beyond Coral is focused on exactly that.

An important part of our mission is to help each other reconnect with nature. Everyone can participate in helping restore the planet. Our project is to build a coral nursery and laboratory in Quintana Roo, Mexico wherein global visitors may join us in planting coral onto the reef.

We create projects that can be evaluated and accountable to the following objectives: - Contribute to the conservation, preservation, restoration and custody of the reef and its interconnected systems. - Create scalable, replicable and sustainable solutions that use art, storytelling and genius to spread love. - Promote awareness and develop facilities that inspire hope in the face of our climatic emergency.

Yes! Donors and sponsors are encouraged to pick a specific Beyond Coral project to support. Don't know what project you'd like to support, contact us at beyondcoral@gmail.com to find out more!