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NMI presents at coral task force meeting
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Posted on Mar 04 2009
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial recently presented the CNMI coral reef accomplishments and challenges to members of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force.
Task force members meet biannually to discuss key issues, propose new actions, present progress reports, and update the coral community on past accomplishments and future plans. This was the task force’s 21st meeting and was held at the U.S. Department of Interior on Feb. 25, 2009.
In his speech, Fitial pledged to ensure the protection of resources. “The CNMI is committed to ensuring that our coral reefs, the crown jewels of our Oceans, will still be a bountiful, healthy and beautiful resource for future generations.”
The CNMI boasted its success in reducing land-based pollution in Laolao Bay, Saipan and erosion at Talakhya, Rota. The CNMI Marine Monitoring Team has documented statistically sound marine-activity trends by quantifying negative relationships between watershed pollution and selected measures of seagrass, algae, and coral assemblages, allowing the CNMI to re-focus its watershed management strategies.
The CNMI has also completed a Conservation Action Plan, a site specific, ridge-to-reef and ecosystem based approach. Fitial also remarked on the commitment of the CNMI people to protect reefs, citing the recent designation of the Marianas Trench Monument and the Micronesia Challenge.
The CNMI continues to raise community awareness through school visits and exhibits at community events. The most popular project is the summer student internship, now in its seventh year. It has provided hands-on coral reef resource management experience to over 50 college students.
The CNMI was one of the few jurisdictions that raised the issue of climate change. “…There remain challenges that we face: the additional funding needed to implement projects, high staff turnovers, lack of training for staff and capacity in the agencies and the biggest threat, climate change.,” said Fitial. [B][I](DEQ)[/I][/B]
