04-14-2005, 04:18 PM
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* April 13, 2005
* R E E F D I S P A T C H
* _________________________
* Will New Help
* for Coral Reefs
* Arrive in Time?
*
* -- learn more at --
*[url "http://www.reefguardian.org/"]http://www.reefguardian.org[/url]
***************************
Dear Friend of Coral Reefs,
In Taiwan, seventy-five percent of coral reefs are deteriorating. In Australia, reef managers are worried about the Great Barrier Reef's capacity to recover from stress spikes. And in the United States, Elkhorn and Staghorn corals are in bad enough shape to have recently earned listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Those are just three of the alarming reports currently being featured on the ReefGuardian International website ([url "http://www.reefguardian.org/"]http://www.reefguardian.org[/url]). With one bad news report after another, is there still time to prevent the complete decline of coral reefs before the end of the 21st century?
Maybe.
In Vietnam, fishermen have banded together in a grassroots effort to protect Ran Trao coral reefs. In Australia, the Great Barrier Reef Authority is embarking on a concerted campaign to boost reef resiliency -- and the Queensland provincial government is moving to reduce the silt and nutrients that flow onto the reef from rivers in the region. And in the United States, a broad team of marine ecologists has put forth a comprehensive plan to achieve recovery and stability for coral reef ecosystems in Florida and Hawaii. All those efforts are also currently chronicled via the ReefGuardian website ([url "http://www.reefguardian.org/"]http://www.reefguardian.org[/url]).
But can those efforts make a significant difference in time to reverse what those same marine ecologists have termed coral reefs' slippery slope to slime?
Not without public involvement and support.
No matter what the particular protection or recovery strategy may be, some things are certain. It will cost money. It will take effort. It will require reduced use of coral reefs, whether as profit centers or dumping grounds. And it will be strongly opposed by those unwilling or unable to accept the social or economic cost of putting that protection or recovery strategy to work.
That's why, if coral reefs are to have a chance, those who care about them need to speak up for them. And you can.
Right now, you have until April 15th to speak up for stronger measures to protect the coral reefs of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary under the Sanctuary's now-being-revised management plan.
Right now, you have until May 15th to speak up for an effective Northwest Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecological Reserve management plan that lives up to the protection potential of the Presidential Executive Order that created the Reserve.
And there are many other ways for you to stand up and be counted by providing your views to government agencies on key coral reef conservation issues.
All you have to do is follow the links from the ReefGuardian website ([url "http://www.reefguardian.org/"]http://www.reefguardian.org[/url]).
Thanks for caring,
ALEXANDER STONE
ReefGuardian International
***************************
[url "http://www.reefguardian.org/"]http://www.reefguardian.org[/url]
***************************
* April 13, 2005
* R E E F D I S P A T C H
* _________________________
* Will New Help
* for Coral Reefs
* Arrive in Time?
*
* -- learn more at --
*[url "http://www.reefguardian.org/"]http://www.reefguardian.org[/url]
***************************
Dear Friend of Coral Reefs,
In Taiwan, seventy-five percent of coral reefs are deteriorating. In Australia, reef managers are worried about the Great Barrier Reef's capacity to recover from stress spikes. And in the United States, Elkhorn and Staghorn corals are in bad enough shape to have recently earned listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Those are just three of the alarming reports currently being featured on the ReefGuardian International website ([url "http://www.reefguardian.org/"]http://www.reefguardian.org[/url]). With one bad news report after another, is there still time to prevent the complete decline of coral reefs before the end of the 21st century?
Maybe.
In Vietnam, fishermen have banded together in a grassroots effort to protect Ran Trao coral reefs. In Australia, the Great Barrier Reef Authority is embarking on a concerted campaign to boost reef resiliency -- and the Queensland provincial government is moving to reduce the silt and nutrients that flow onto the reef from rivers in the region. And in the United States, a broad team of marine ecologists has put forth a comprehensive plan to achieve recovery and stability for coral reef ecosystems in Florida and Hawaii. All those efforts are also currently chronicled via the ReefGuardian website ([url "http://www.reefguardian.org/"]http://www.reefguardian.org[/url]).
But can those efforts make a significant difference in time to reverse what those same marine ecologists have termed coral reefs' slippery slope to slime?
Not without public involvement and support.
No matter what the particular protection or recovery strategy may be, some things are certain. It will cost money. It will take effort. It will require reduced use of coral reefs, whether as profit centers or dumping grounds. And it will be strongly opposed by those unwilling or unable to accept the social or economic cost of putting that protection or recovery strategy to work.
That's why, if coral reefs are to have a chance, those who care about them need to speak up for them. And you can.
Right now, you have until April 15th to speak up for stronger measures to protect the coral reefs of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary under the Sanctuary's now-being-revised management plan.
Right now, you have until May 15th to speak up for an effective Northwest Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecological Reserve management plan that lives up to the protection potential of the Presidential Executive Order that created the Reserve.
And there are many other ways for you to stand up and be counted by providing your views to government agencies on key coral reef conservation issues.
All you have to do is follow the links from the ReefGuardian website ([url "http://www.reefguardian.org/"]http://www.reefguardian.org[/url]).
Thanks for caring,
ALEXANDER STONE
ReefGuardian International
***************************
[url "http://www.reefguardian.org/"]http://www.reefguardian.org[/url]
***************************