International Year of the Reef 2008
The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), a partnership of two-dozen government agencies, NGOs and other institutions, has designated 2008 as the International Year of the Reef (IYOR).
IYOR 2008 is a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about the importance of coral reefs and the threats they face, and to motivate people to take action to protect them.
Blue Ventures has partnered with Coral Cay Conservation and the Project AWARE Foundation to hold public events and educational activities throughout IYOR 2008. This partnership will promote reef conservation and encourage people to take steps to safeguard coral reefs.
Coral reefs have been called the “rainforests of the sea” because of the vast diversity of life they support. Reefs cover less than one percent of the Earth’s surface, yet they are home to 25 percent of all marine fish species.
But more than half of the world’s coral reefs are at risk from human activities. At the present rate of destruction, 70 percent of the world’s reefs will be destroyed by the year 2050.
The last IYOR took place in 1997 during which hundreds of groundbreaking studies were conducted to determine the status of coral reefs and numerous international policies were enacted to protect these vital resources. But much more needs to be done.
Coral Cay Conservation, Blue Ventures and Project AWARE Foundation will work with like-minded businesses, government leaders, non-profit organisations and individuals to raise awareness for the need of reef conservation and push for policies and programmes that will ensure these precious resources remain healthy and productive for generations to come.
For Reef News UK Newsletters dedicated to IYOR please click on the images below:
IYOR Newsletter May 2008
For a Press Release about this collaboration click here.
You can find out more information about IYOR news and events around the world by visiting www.iyor.org, check out the outcomes of 2008's International Coral Reef Symposium, and sign an online petition raising awareness of the critical issues threatening the future of the world's coral reefs.