[Coral-List] Chagos Conservation

[Judith Lang]

Hi everyone,
To follow up on Jim Hendee's posting regarding submissions to the US  
Coral Reef Task Force (below): members of the public attending the  
Business Meeting in Washington, DC on February 24, 2010 also have the  
option of speaking during the Public Comments period.

To register for the meeting, go to http://coralreef.gov/

Dave Raney and Judy Lang (whose only familiarity with this issue is  
the previous postings on the coral-list)


Begin forwarded message:

> From: Jim Hendee <jim.hendee at noaa.gov>
> Date: January 27, 2010 8:13:19 AM EST
> To: Coral-List Subscribers <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Chagos Conservation
>
> Greetings,
>
>    I have a new sparkler to throw into the Chagos fireworks.  The U.S.
> Department of Defense (through the Secretary of Defense) is charged   
> by
> Executive Order #13089 to be participating member of the U.S. Coral  
> Reef
> Task Force.  To wit, see Sec.4.:
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~
>
> Sec. 4. Coral Reef Task Force. The Secretary of the Interior and the
> Secretary of Commerce, through the Administrator of the National  
> Oceanic
> and Atmospheric Administration, shall co-chair a U.S. Coral Reef Task
> Force (``Task Force''), whose members shall include, but not be  
> limited
> to, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the
> Attorney General, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of
> Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Defense, the
> Secretary of State, the Secretary of Transportation, the Director of  
> the
> National Science Foundation, the Administrator of the Agency for
> International Development, and the Administrator of the National
> Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Task Force shall oversee
> implementation of the policy and Federal agency responsibilities set
> forth in this order, and shall guide and support activities under the
> U.S. Coral Reef Initiative (``CRI''). All Federal agencies whose  
> actions
> may affect U.S. coral reef ecosystems shall review their participation
> in the CRI and the strategies developed under it, including strategies
> and plans of State, territorial, common-wealth, and local governments,
> and, to the extent feasible, shall enhance Federal participation and
> support of such strategies and plans. The Task Force shall work in
> cooperation with State, territorial, commonwealth, and local  
> government
> agencies, nongovernmental organizations, the scientific community, and
> commercial interests.
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~
>
> Although this EO was designed with U.S. territories in mind, clearly
> coral reef areas know know no international boundaries; and in fact
> NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program (www.coralreef.noaa.gov)  
> provides
> for international programs and partnerships.
>
> The DoD was also charged with helping coral reefs in the U.S.  
> Commission
> on Ocean Policy.
>
> I'm almost clueless on DoD coral reef activities, yet I see here...
>
> http://www.stormingmedia.us/39/3977/A397794.html
>
> that they have made progress.  Perhaps now is a great chance for  
> them to
> both help their quiet image on the coral reef conservation front, and
> also to help come to a solution regarding the Chagos conservation  
> area.
> If Diego Garcia is a "hands-off" area, but which is of concern in  
> being
> included into a proposed new conservation area, then might I propose
> that DoD offers to the international research community a plan for
> conservation that is reviewed by peers, and which would allow periodic
> site review by those who would likely not be shot as spies?  I think  
> it
> is worth considering that this subject be put before the next U.S.  
> Coral
> Reef Task Force meeting to be held February 23-24, Washington, DC.
> Here's more on the USCRTF, http://coralreef.gov/ .  Note this  
> statemtent
> on that site:
>
> "The advance public comment period for the February 2010 CRTF  
> Meeting is
> open through Friday, January 29. Advance public comments may be
> submitted to Sarah Bobbe via email at Sarah_Bobbe at ios.doi.gov or via
> mail at 1305 East-West Highway, NOS/OCRM/CCD 10th Floor, Silver  
> Spring,
> MD 20910."
>
> In other words, by this Friday, two days from now.
>
> I know this suggestion in itself does nothing, or little, with  
> regard to
> the Chagosians themselves.  However, maybe this is a great opportunity
> for the U.S. (to include the Department of State) to look like one of
> the good guys.
>
>  Cheers,
>    Jim
>
> ----------------------------------------------------
> James C. Hendee, Ph.D.
> Coral Health and Monitoring Program
> Ocean Chemistry Division
> Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory
> National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
> U.S. Department of Commerce
> 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway
> Miami, FL  33149-1026
>
> Voice:  (305) 361-4396
> Fax:    (305) 361-4447
> Email:  jim.hendee at noaa.gov
> Web:    http://www.coral.noaa.gov
>
>
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