International Year of the Reef (IYOR 2008) - Get Involved!!

“Recognizing that ten years after the first International Year of the Reef (1997) there continues to be an urgent need to increase awareness and understanding of coral reefs, and to further conserve and manage valuable coral reef and associated ecosystems, the International Coral Reef Initiative designated 2008 as the International Year of the Reef (IYOR 2008).” International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), October 2006.

IYOR 2008

- Strengthen awareness about ecological, economic, social and cultural value of coral reefs and associated ecosystems

- Improve understanding of the critical threats to reefs and generate both practical and innovative solutions to reduce these threats

- Generate urgent action to develop and implement effective management strategies for conservation and sustainable use of these ecosystems.

Vision: January to December 2008

IYOR 2008 will be a year-long campaign of events and initiatives hosted by governments and non-governmental organizations around the world, with global ownership from the community level upward, to promote conservation action and strengthening long-term constituencies for coral reef conservation.

Check out www.iyor.org for more information on the IYOR 2008 effort. Here you can register your interest, sign up for the international email list, find an IYOR focal point within your region/country, download basic IYOR 2008 information and key documents, and much more soon. For additional information, you can also contact the IYOR coordinator at info@iyor.org.

Of the CEP member states the following countries have initiated IYOR sites and are planning activities:

Barbados: http://www.iyor.org/IYOR_Barbados.html

France: http://www.iyor.org/IYOR_France.html

Jamaica: http://www.iyor.org/IYOR_Jamaica.html

USA:  IYOR Working Group Beth.Dieveney@noaa.gov

We encourage all CEP member countries to participate in this important initiative!

http://www.iyor.org/IYOR_UNEP_CAR.html