Vieques Island: Protection should be comprehensive!

DeeVon Quirolo deevon at bellsouth.net
Sun Nov 28 19:27:37 EST 1999



JSobel at DCCMC.ORG wrote:

> The coral reef list-server has once again provided an excellent, neutral
> forum for sharing many perspectives and providing much useful information
> regarding the controversial and emotional issues facing Vieques Island's
> coral reefs and military use of this important area.  The dialogue to date
> has been very instructive and informative to me and I would like to thank
> the List-server providers and all of those who have shared their
> perspectives on Vieques.  Here is one more:
>
> As ecosystem director for the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC), I was
> approached both through the list-server and directly by the Commonwealth of
> Puerto Rico, the law firm representing them, local NGO's from Puerto Rico,
> and coral reef scientists with requests to sign onto a group letter
> emphasizing the need to stop the bombing and get the military out of Vieques
> due to its impact on coral reefs.  I also had the privilege of attending the
> U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting in St. Croix and hearing several
> excellent presentations on Vieques and discussing this with presenters and
> attendees familiar with Vieques.
>
> CMC elected not to sign onto the group letter that was circulated due to its
> sole focus on the bombing issue and our belief that any solution to
> protecting Vieques' coral reefs would have to be more comprehensive and
> long-term.  Instead, we sent our own letter (see below) together with EDF
> that supported an end to the bombing and other military activities impacting
> the island's coral reefs and other natural resources, but stressing that a
> more comprehensive solution is essential, especially if the military pulls
> out.  Our belief is that such a solution will need to include protected
> areas on land and in the water and stringent conservation measures
> applicable to those areas that are developed.  Designation of a National
> Wildlife Refuge, as was done for Culebra and other former military lands,
> may be a piece of this solution.  There are other approaches worth
> considering and we don't believe a comprehensive solution need be
> "Imperialistic", but must address issues other than bombing and military
> activities and provide concrete protection with regard to other threats.
> The list-server dialogue has strengthened my belief that the more
> comprehensive approach called for in our letter is absolutely critical.
>
> Simply promoting "sustainable development", without defining what this means
> will likely not protect Vieques reefs, other natural resources, or the human
> community on Vieques for that matter.  Edwin Hernandez-Delgado indicated in
> his email that a local Vieques NGO, Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de
> Vieques, has prepared an altenative sustainable development plan for a
> Vieques Island free of the Navy.  We would like to see this plan posted or
> at least have information on how to obtain it provided.  In our
> conversations with those who were asking us to sign the group letter, those
> representing the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and others voiced support for
> more comprehensive protection, but were unwilling to state or commit to a
> written position other than calling for an immediate end to the bombing and
> withdrawal of the military.  This position concerns us, in that, if the
> military does withdraw, development pressures similar to those that occurred
> elsewhere in Puerto Rico and beyond may overwhelm good intentions with
> respect to Vieques and its local community, unless there is already a
> comprehensive protection plan in place for its coral reefs and other natural
> resources.   The time to provide such protection is prior to any decision on
> a military pull-out.  The letter we sent follows:
>                 November 16, 1999
>
> President William J. Clinton
> The White House
> 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
> Washington, D.C. 20500
>
> Dear Mr. President:
>
> On behalf of the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC) and the Environmental
> Defense Fund (EDF), we are writing to urge you to exercise all of your
> relevant authorities to permanently protect the coral reefs and associated
> tropical marine and coastal ecosystems on and surrounding the Island of
> Vieques, Puerto Rico.  We encourage you to find a resolution to current
> Department of Defense (DOD) activities that may threaten these systems and
> the fish and wildlife that depend on them, and a long-term solution that
> would provide comprehensive protection for these vital natural resources.
> In particular, we ask that you (1) extend the current moratorium and secure
> a permanent ban on all live fire military exercises and bombing activities
> that threaten natural resources in the vicinity of Vieques; and (2) develop
> and implement a strategy to fully and permanently protect the coral reef and
> related ecosystems on and near Vieques, including development of a national
> wildlife refuge, national park, or other appropriate protected area(s).
>
> Vieques is home to some of the most extraordinary ecosystems on the planet,
> including three of the world's seven surviving bioluminescent bays and some
> of the healthiest and most diverse coral reefs found in U.S. Carribean
> territorial waters.  The Island also provides important habitat for numerous
> species protected under the Endangered Species Act including manatees, brown
> pelicans, and green, hawksbill, leatherback, and loggerhead sea turtles, as
> well as several endangered plants.  While naval bombing and use of Vieques
> has resulted in some significant harm to the Island's fragile marine and
> terrestrial ecology and raised legitimate concerns among the island's
> population, the federal holdings on the island have also forestalled other
> potentially harmful development and limited natural resource extraction that
> may pose an equal or greater long-term threat to the island's natural
> resources.  Any long-term strategy to protect Vieques' natural resources
> must include not only a cessation of bombing, but also a comprehensive
> approach that protects these sensitive systems from coastal development and
> natural resource extraction.
>
> Your Executive Order 13089 on Coral Reef Protection sets very high standards
> for Federal agencies and the Nation to both prevent degradation and enhance
> protection for coral reef ecosystems. Its stated policy requires all Federal
> agencies to:
>
> (1) "utilize their programs and authorities to protect and enhance the
> conditions of such ecosystems"
>
> (2) "ensure that any actions they authorize, fund, or carry out will not
> degrade the conditions of such ecosystems."
>
> With regard to Vieques, continued live bombing of the island's coral reef
> ecosystems appears clearly inconsistent with the no-degradation standard of
> the Executive Order and to require implementation of an extended moratorium
> and permanent prohibition.  However, addressing only the bombing issue would
> fall far short of the Executive Order's stated policy regarding the
> protection and enhancement of coral reef ecosystems.  DOD and all federal
> agencies are also required to use their programs and authorities to protect
> such systems.  Given the relatively healthy condition and importance of
> Vieques' coral reef ecosystems, the policy requires that all agencies
> maintain and enhance that level of protection.  In our view, cessation of
> bombing must be combined with more comprehensive protection to fulfill the
> letter and spirit of the Executive Order.  Development and implementation of
> a national wildlife refuge or similar protective regime would be one way of
> accomplishing this.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Jack Sobel, Ecosystem Director                  Doug Rader, Senior Scientist
> Center for Marine Conservation                  Environmental Defense Fund
>
>  <<ViequesLetter.rtf>>
> *********************************
> Jack Sobel, Director
> Ecosystem Program
> Center for Marine Conservation
> 1725 DeSales St. NW, Suite #600
> Washington, DC  20036
> Phone:  (202) 429-5609
> Fax:  (202) 872-0619
> Email:  jsobel at dccmc.org
> *********************************
>
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>
>                            Name: ViequesLetter.rtf
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  just as comprehensive as the FKNMS that was on watch during the death of
Florida's coral reefs. Government cannot save coral. This has been proven. CQ
from Reef Relief

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