NOAA and IYOR

[Coral Health and Monitoring Program]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 06 Jan 1997 14:31:46 -0500 (EST)
From: mstout at rdc.noaa.gov
To: hendee at aoml.noaa.gov

January 6, 1997

Dear Colleague:

As you know, 1997 has been designated the International Year of the Reef
(IYOR). The United States government agencies and more than 50 other
organizations from around the globe have sanctioned the 1997 IYOR to raise
awareness of the value of coral reefs and the challenges they face. The IYOR
is an effort to promote and pursue the goals of the International Coral Reef
Initiative (ICRI), a partnership of nations and organizations to protect and
sustainably use fragile coral reef resources world-wide.

Why should we care about coral reefs? Coral reefs are important to our
future. Reefs are:

	home and nursery for almost a million fish and other species, many
		that we rely on for food;
 	some of the earth's most diverse living ecosystems;
 	full of new and undiscovered biomedical resources that we've only
		just begun to explore;
 	important protection for coastal communities from storms, wave damage
		and erosion.

Coral reefs also attract hundreds of thousands of divers, snorkelers and
other tourists to tropical coasts every year. This recreation and travel
supports a significant tourism industry dependent on clean waters and healthy
coral reefs.

In the United States, the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the primary federal agency responsible
for the stewardship of marine resources including coral reefs. NOAA's
activities include monitoring the health of domestic coral reefs, restoring
damaged or destroyed sections of coral reefs, and working with states and
other partners to maintain the health of coral reefs through management,
research and education.

Where can you get more information? NOAA is working in partnership with other
organizations to provide you with a list of experts and topics of interest.

Throughout 1997, NOAA will provide you with new information every week on a
wide variety of issues related to coral reefs, and direct access to experts
in many fields. Each of the 52-weekly coral stories includes ideas and
experts, with issues ranging from threats to reefs (e.g., dynamite fishing in
the tropical), to solutions (e.g., protected area management) and reef
restoration projects (e.g., coral transplanting techniques).

Although NOAA is the coordinating entity for this effort, the list of story
ideas and experts includes individuals from a variety of universities,
agencies and organizations such as the American Association for Zoos and
Aquariums and the IUCN (World Conservation Union).

The sheets enclosed with this letter show how to access the 52 stories or
find out more about NOAA's 1997 activities on coral reefs. If you have any
questions or suggestions please contact Matt Stout in my office (phone:
202-482-6090; fax 202-482-3154) or visit NOAA's coral reef home page at:

	http://www.noaa.gov/public-affairs/coral-reef/

What can be done? The stakes are high: two-thirds of the earth's coral reefs
are dying. It is estimated that 10-percent of the earth's coral reefs have
already been degraded beyond recovery. A much larger percentage is now
threatened. Human activities are among the major cause of reef decline.

Increasing public awareness about the value and plight of coral reefs can
make a difference. I hope you will consider using these story ideas as
valuable resources to explore the importance of our coral reefs, the
challenges facing them, and some of the techniques being used to find
solutions.

Thank you for your assistance. I look forward to working with you on this
important topic.

	Sincerely,


	Lori A. Arguelles

	Director
	NOAA Office of Public Affairs


-------------------------

REPORTER'S TIP SHEET


Week 1
1977 International Year of the Reef

What is the International Year of the Reef?

In response to the growing threat to coral reefs around the world, 1997 has
been declared the International Year of the Reef.

Scientists and conservation groups, concerned about the state of the world's
reefs, urged governments, scientists, environmental organizations and the
private sector around the world to join together in addressing the following
challenges:

	- execute a major program of public education about coral reefs;
	- scientifically assess the conditions of coral reefs worldwide; and
	- collaborate with governments, local communities and other reef
		managers to develop and implement plans for the
		sustainable use of irreplaceable reef resources.

The public campaign of IYOR is an important element of the International
Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), launched by governments in 1995 through a Call
to Action and Framework for Action. Through IYOR, ICRI is creating and
strengthening public-private partnerships to address the global degradation
of coral reef ecosystems.

Available Resources Found on the NOAA Coral Reef Home Page:

	 http://www.noaa.gov/public-affairs/coral-reef/

IYOR Activities Completed or Underway - November 1996
IYOR Brochure
IYOR Tool Kits:
	- Selected Guidelines, Handbooks and "Tools" for Coral Reef
		Management
	- Coral Reef Education Resource List
	- IYOR Checklists for Action: Government research institutions
		and scientists, dive and tour operators, schools
		and teachers, local and national NGOs
ICRI Call to Action
ICRI Framework for Action
ICRI Report to UN Commission on Sustainable Development

Additional resources available from:
Matt Stout
NOAA Public Affairs
U.S. Department of Commerce
14th and Constitution NW Room 6013
Washington, DC 20230
202-482-6090
coralreef at www.rdc.noaa.gov


-----------------------
CORAL EXPERTS:

Contacts:

Arthur Paterson
NOAA, Office of International Affairs
Tel: 202-482-6196
Fax: 202-482-4307
Arthur.E.Paterson at noaa.gov

Robert Ginsburg
Chair,
IYOR Organizing Committee
University of Miami/RSMAS
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy
Miami, Fl. 33149 USA
Tel: 305-361-4875
Fax: 305-361-4094 or 4632
E-mail: rginsburg at rsmas.miami.edu

Stephen Colwell
Co-Chair
IYOR Public Awareness and Conservation Committee
c/o Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL)
64 Shattuck Square,
Suite 220
Berkeley, CA 94794 USA
Tel: 510-848-0110
Fax: 510-848-3720
E-mail: IYOR1997 at aol.com

Peter Thomas
U.S. Department of State
Washington D.C.
Tel: 202-736-7113
Fax: 202-736-7351
E-mail: pthomas at state.gov
Current U.S. ICRI Coordinator and Former ICRI Secretariat Coordinator

Dr. Richard Kenchington
Senior Director
External Services Section
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
P.O. Box 791
Canberra, A.C.T. 2601 Australia
tel:	61-6-247-0211
fax:	61-6-247-5761
email:	r.kenchington at gbrmpa.gov.au
- International Secretariat lead on International Coral Reef Initiative
- Member of IYOR Steering Committee (Education)
- Information about Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Aquarium
activities

Dr. Paul Holthus/Dr. Magnus Ngoile
Marine and Coastal Programme Coordinator.
IUCN/World Conservation Union
Tel: 41-22-999-0251
Fax: 41-22-999-0025
E-mail: PFH at hq.iucn.org
Member of ICRI Executive Planning Committee

Sue Wells
Co-Chair IYOR Public Awareness and Conservation Committee, and Marine
Programme Coordinator, World Wildlife Fund for Nature
c/o WWF International
Avenue Monte Blanc
Gland 1196, Switzerland
Tel: 41-22-364-9545
Fax: 41-22-364-5829
swells at wwfnet.org