In addition to underpinning food security and eco-tourism economies, healthy ecosystems like coral reefs and mangrove forests are also critical for protecting lives, infrastructure, and property during storm events. For example, a healthy coral reef reduces wave energy on average of 97%.

Following our team’s firsthand experience surviving and providing disaster relief from Hurricane Dorian in 2019, repeated stories were told by Bahamian residents about how mangrove forests and barrier reefs helped them live through the historic storm surge. Unfortunately, climate change is increasing the intensity of storms while simultaneously damaging the coastal ecosystems that protect us against these events.
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In areas where the Coral Vita Conservancy works, our team is among the first responders delivering direct relief aid when disasters strike. As efforts shift towards rebuilding after a disaster, we ground our work in climate resilience principles so that coastal communities can best prepare for future crises and avoid mistakes of the past.

By funding relief and recovery efforts, you can help ensure frontline communities are able to adapt to the realities of our climate crisis.