In welcoming you to our final newsletter for 2007, I wanted to express my thanks for your efforts in helping CORAL advance reef protection over the last few months.

First, your phenomenal response to our request for funding our Raja Ampat program has enabled us to continue our work there, uninterrupted. This matchless resource can be protected before it's too late and your support ensures no lag in our work through June of next year

Second, thanks to all of you who responded to our action alerts to contact your representatives to support the Coral Reef Conservation Amendments Act of 2007. Working together, our supporters applied some of the positive momentum that brought us very close to seeing the legislation reenacted. On October 22nd, the US House of Representatives re-authorized and strengthened the 2000 Coral Reef Conservation Act (CRCA), expanding the bill and providing new funding for the protection of reefs under US jurisdiction. And on October 30th, the Senate Commerce Committee voted to send their CRCA legislation to the full Senate for consideration. The legislation covers coral reef ecosystems that span more than 6,500 square miles and include American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

When you have a moment, please contact your Senators and urge them to approve Senate Bill 1580.

The challenges we face in our mission to save coral reefs and the communities dependent on them grows more urgent all the time. In response, CORAL is growing ever more rapidly to fulfill our mission. To accommodate this, CORAL is in new offices, just two blocks from our old ones. If you live in San Francisco, or are visiting for the holidays -

Please join us for an Open House Reception on Thursday December 13th, 2007, 5pm to 7pm at our new office at 351 California Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104. Please reply by sending an email to rsvp@coral.org [7].

Meet board members, staff, and others who, like you, support CORAL's hands-on approach to protecting the world's coral reefs.

Thank you from all of us here at CORAL for making 2007 a year of growth that included many major accomplishments.

Together we really are saving our last great wilderness.

Cheers,

Brian Huse, Executive Director

[8]Tiffany & Co. Foundation says coral is 'Too Precious To Wear' [9]
CORAL is helping to launch a new campaign to increase public awareness about the devastating impact the sale of coral jewelry has on fragile reef ecosystems.
Read More... [10]

[11]Thanks to CORAL's Donors, Our Work in Raja Ampat Continues! [12]
CORAL's urgent request to our supporters was an unprecedented success. Over $65,000 was contributed. This funds our continuing work to restructure the way in which tourism user fees are collected and distributed to benefit the resources and people of Raja Ampat. THANK YOU.
This is just the beginning... [13]

[14] Help Pass Legislation to Mitigate Impacts of Climate Change [15]
Join CORAL in supporting the Global Warming Wildlife Survival Act, S2204, the first legislation to plan for the resiliency of coastal, marine, and Great Lakes ecosystems to withstand the impacts of global warming.
Read More... [16]

[17]Best Island Destinations: National Geographic Traveler Magazine [18]
CORAL's Executive Director, Brian Huse, was among the panel of experts whose evaluations of six criteria made up the survey. Among the reef destinations discussed, CORAL has been active in several that have seen improvement.
Read More... [19]

CORAL Is Having A Party!
Please join our board members, staff and others who, like you, support CORAL's conservation efforts at an Open House on Thursday, December 13 at our new office at 351 California St, Suite 650 in San Francisco. Reply to rsvp@coral.org [20].

Coral Reefs In The News
New South Florida Nursery To Focus On Staghorn Corals [21]
Source: Science Daily
Race to save coral reefs from scuba divers [22]
Source: CDNN
Labor's reef plan 'cautiously welcomed' [23]
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Oceans are 'soaking up less CO2' [24]
Source: BBC News
EU reiterates commitment with conservation of oceans and seas [25]
Source: Mercopress
More News... [26]