Broward County Commission proclaims support for International Year of the Reef, recognizes Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative, designates July 7-11, 2008 as "11th International Coral Reef Symposium Week" in Broward County, Florida
FT. LAUDERDALE - In preparation for, and recognition of, the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, the Broward County Commission issued a Proclamation on June 24, 2008 celebrating the Symposium, the 2008 International Year of the Reef, and conservation of southeast Florida's reefs by the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative. Dr. Richard Dodge and Wendy Wood, of the National Coral Reef Institute at Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Ken Banks, of Broward County's Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department, and Chantal Collier, of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Coral Reef Conservation Program, accepted the Proclamation from Commissioner Kristin Jacobs.
The Broward County Commission Proclamation recognizes the extraordinary biological, geological, and economic resources represented by coral reef ecosystems locally, nationally, and globally; and the fact that coral reefs worldwide, as well as in Florida, are suffering degradation from the effects of overfishing, coastal construction and development, land based sources of pollution, and global climate change. The 2008 International Year of the Reef is a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about the value and importance of coral reefs and to motivate people to take action to protect them. The Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative, led by the DEP Coral Reef Conservation Program, is a local action strategy for collaborative action among government and non-governmental partners to identify and implement priority actions needed to reduce key threats to southeast Florida coral reef resources.
"It has long been recognized that coral reefs, much like rainforests, provide an ecological context for understanding why life is possible for humans on this planet. Reefs produce goods and services for us, and their condition serves as a report card on how well we are treating our world. So it is not hard to understand why they must be protected," said Ellen McCarron, Acting Director of the DEP Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas. "As the Florida Keys received designation as a National Marine Sanctuary almost 20 years ago in recognition of this important need, it is now time to bring attention to the shallow reef system of southeast Florida. The Broward County Proclamation is a landmark statement of the need to act now to conserve our reef resources. Together with hosting the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium in Broward County, these are powerful calls for action to protect, research, and provide critical management for the reefs of southeast Florida."
To increase coral reef awareness and visibility during the International Year of the Reef, the DEP Coral Reef Conservation Program initiated a Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative publicity campaign featuring public service announcements about southeast Florida's reefs on local television and radio stations, and in movie theaters and coastal hotels. During the International Coral Reef Symposium, and throughout the month of July, the campaign will also include ads on the side of buses travelling the 17th Street route in Fort Lauderdale, which runs adjacent to the Broward County Convention Center, where the Symposium is being held. The focal point of the bus wraps is a panoramic south Florida reefscape by world-renowned underwater photographer Stephen Frink, inviting viewers to visit the website www.southeastfloridareefs.net containing information about the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative, and links to Symposium and International Year of the Reef information.
"Through the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative, we are implementing 140 local action strategy projects to reduce key threats to coral reef resources in southeast Florida. We're proud to be leading the state's efforts through Florida's membership on the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to promote and coordinate research, monitoring, partnerships, and stakeholder participation in the protection of southeast Florida's reefs," said Chantal Collier, Manager of the DEP Coral Reef Conservation Program.
The 11th International Coral Reef Symposium is bringing over 2,500 scientists, resource managers, and conservation leaders from around the world to attend this important conference, which is being held in the continental United States for the first time in over 30 years. Scientific presentations and field trips highlighting Florida's reefs require pre-registration. However, the Education Center at the Symposium is free and open to the public daily from July 7-10, 2008 to ensure area residents and visitors can engage in this unprecedented opportunity to learn about coral reefs. Features of the Education Center include Wyland's Clean Water Mobile Learning Center, the debut of a 3,000 square foot exhibit entitled "Our Reefs: Caribbean Connections", fifteen educational booths, a resource library containing reef information from around the globe and a full schedule of programs in the Coral Theater. Sponsored by the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative, the Coral Theater's daily themes include an International Year of the Reef 2008 Celebration, with feature films and public service announcements from around the world (Monday, July 7), Educational Activities for K-12 Teachers and Students (Tuesday, July 8), Focus: Florida (Wednesday, July 9) and Coral Reef Conservation (Thursday, July 10).
Information and program details for the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium are available online at www.nova.edu/ncri/11icrs. The complete Education Center Coral Theater schedule is available at www.nova.edu/ncri/11icrs/education.html. A General Exhibit Area, adjacent to the Education Center, housing over ninety exhibitors from around the world, will also be open to the public during the Symposium. For information on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Coral Reef Conservation Program and the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/programs/coral and www.southeastfloridareefs.net
