This year marks the 10th anniversary of the International Year of the Coral Reef and the CNMI is joining in the celebration with the signing of a proclamation yesterday declaring 2008 as the CNMI Year of the Reef.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez jointly made the declaration during opening ceremonies at the Hyatt Regency Saipan's SandCastle.
The IYCR 2008 is a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about the value and importance of coral reefs and the threats to their sustainability. It is also intended to motivate people to take action and protect coral reefs.
Fran Castro, the CNMI's coral reef point of contact, said that reef’s are very important to the islands' culture and livelihood and this entire year, “we’ll focus on protecting our reefs and raising awareness and getting our community involved."
Villagomez disclosed that Managaha's coral reefs have one of the highest points evaluated in the world. "People don’t know that our reefs are one of the most evaluated reefs in the Pacific," he said.
He said that members of the community must do their part in protecting the islands' coral reefs.
A CNMI Coral Reef Initiative was started in 1997 in conjunction with the first International Year of the Coral Reef. Funding through the U.S. Coral Reef Initiative Management and Monitoring Grant programs provided renewed momentum for this program.
Fitial urges "each citizen, each resident to become more aware, more knowledgeable and more action-oriented toward personal protection and collective conservation of our invaluable coral reefs."
Before the endorsement, Coastal Resource Management director John B. Joyner read aloud the proclamation.
According to the proclamation document, "coral reefs are of outstanding beauty, have long been congruent with our subsistence and culture.
“Coral reefs provide a home for thousands of reef organisms and are also known for their medicinal value. Coral reefs also protect shorelines from storms and erosion and provide the foundation for eco-tourism industry.
“Coral reefs are threatened by human impacts such as improper watershed development, sedimentation, marine debris, nitrification from sewage discharge, over-fishing, vessel groundings, and boat anchor damage, chemical spills and global climate change."
The need to continue to increase public awareness and understanding of the "importance of the coral reefs and to further appreciate, conserve and mange these valuable coral reefs and their associated ecosystems," Joyner read.
The CNMI government and other numerous community based organizations have implemented projects to reduce the threat of human impacts through improved marine monitoring, bioresearch, community awareness and outreach, community forums , just to name a few.
"The people of the Commonwealth have a personal responsibility to protect coral reefs for future generations," Joyner added.
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