Protecting coral reefs is even more complicated than I originally thought. I am convinced after the readings that it is the most complicated type of area to protect. They are affected by a wide variety of factors, and this certainly does not make it easier to solve the problems we are having. Coral reefs have been on the decline worldwide. Many of these articles give me the feeling that the collaboration required to restore the reefs in a sustainable way is near impossible. There are so many disconnects between the scientists, the government, ad the local communities that it is difficult to get everyone to support what we are trying to do. There seems to be some group that is missing or left out many times that prevent management procedures from being effectively carried out. There are some examples where all of the necessary connections have been made, or at least have come close. The work the Coral Reef Alliance has done in Hawaii has incorporated a number of these groups. They have gotten local businesses on board with their conservation efforts to protect the reefs, as well as a number of government agencies. They have included a number of other local stakeholders, and even put up signs to inform tourists about how to better protect the reefs, something that I think is crucial to reef preservation. The local stakeholders and community can only do so much. Tourism brings a lot of disturbance to the reefs, and by attempting to inform people who don’t have any involvement with the reefs most of the time, I think the CRA is moving in the right direction. Even so, one of the bigger issues is global climate change, and without attacking the source of that, the reefs will not be entirely safe. However, there are a number of ways that we can help improve the overall health of coral reefs, but he collaboration of government, community, stakeholders, and science to develop a common understanding of the goals and interventions necessary is required.