Coral Reefs

Known for their abundance of life and bold colors, coral reefs play an important role in sustaining our oceans and economies.

Image Credit: Claudio Contreras-Koob

Reefs around the world are under threat from agricultural and urban runoff, coastal development, and overfishing. These human activities paired with the threat of climate change, warming sea temperatures, and increased ocean acidification are causing corals to die-off at an alarming rate.

WILDCOAST is working to conserve coral reefs by establishing protected areas, promoting reef stewardship, and educating communities and tourism outfitters about the importance of healthy and thriving coral reefs.

PROTECT

We protect coral reefs in the Mexican
Pacific and Cuba through mooring
infrastructure, monitoring, implementing
federal zone concessions, trainings and
community outreach.

Image Credit: Claudio Contreras

PARTNER

We work with Mexico's National
Commission for Natural Protected
Areas, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Cuba's Center for Natural
Protected Areas, tourism outfitters and
local communities across eight protected
areas to coordinate coral reef
monitoring and conservation.

Image Credit: Claudio Contreras

Where We Work

Our programs support and protect the beauty, vibrancy, and biodiversity of coral reefs in Mexico and Cuba.

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Our Impact

37.3

million acres of coral reef marine parks in the Mexican Pacific with improved protection

100

park rangers and tourism outfitters trained annually in coral reef stewardship

213

reef-protecting buoys installed in national parks along the Mexican Pacific

15,000

visitors and stakeholders engaged in sustainable visitation practices for coral reefs

7

coral reef national parks monitored for human impacts

DONATE

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Image Credit: Claudio Contreas

Volunteer

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Image Credit: Krissel Rivas

MORE OF OUR WORK

SEA TURTLES

Sea turtles are key to healthy oceans, but now face extinction. WILDCOAST is rebuilding their population by improving nesting beaches, reducing turtle consumption, and supporting eco-tourism.
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Image Credit: Ralph Pace

WHALES

The gray whale winters and breeds in Baja’s warm, pristine lagoons—an area threatened by industrial development. Together with the local government and conservation groups, WILDCOAST is defending this vital shoreline.
Whales

Image Credit: Claudio Contreras-Koob

CLIMATE CHANGE

As global temperatures rise, sea levels are climbing. In partnership with Mexico’s National Commission for Protected Natural Areas, WILDCOAST is helping conserve thousands of acres of carbon-storing mangroves in northwest Mexico.
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Image Credit: Miguel Angel de la Cueva

MANGROVES

Mangroves are among the world’s greatest carbon sequestering plants, absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it within their rich soils.
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Image Credit: WILDCOAST

Coastal Wetlands

In 1971 the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance was signed as an international treaty for worldwide wetland conservation. Wetlands are recognized for their ecological importance on a global scale, acting as buffers for coastal communities and providing important habitat for thousands of species.
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Image Credit: Claudio Contreras-Koob

WILDLANDS

Spanning the Baja California peninsula are millions of acres of protected areas that include open ocean, rugged islands, mangrove lagoons and wilderness coastline.
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Image Credit: Dan Cartamil

OCEANS

From the rugged coast of Northern California to the vibrant shores of Oaxaca and across borders, the oceans connect us all. Our programs establish new marine protected areas, deter poachers and build conservation capacity in local communities.
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Image Credit: Ralph Lee Hopkins