NOAA Reef conservation website

[michaelg]

From Roger Griffis

Announcement - for distribution

 

NOAA LAUNCHES NEW CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PROGRAM WEB SITE

 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the launch

of a new Web site featuring information and products regarding the

nation's coral reefs.  Created by NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation

Program, the Web site supports the program's mission to provide

effective management and sound science to preserve, sustain and restore

valuable coral reef ecosystems.  NOAA is an agency of the U.S.

Department of Commerce.  

 

"We have seen increasing demand for information about coral reef

ecosystems from managers, scientists, teachers and the public including

scuba divers, boaters and fishermen.  This Web site provides a new way

to access a wide variety of useful information on coral reefs including

grants, products and services from NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation

Program," said David Kennedy, program manager.

 

The Web site, available at http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov, provides links

to:

 

* Search for NOAA Coral Reef Data, Information and Products:  This page

directs users to NOAA's Coral Reef Information System, launched in 2002,

to consolidate access to NOAA's coral reef information and data

products.

 

* Funding Opportunities: This page provides links to several grant

programs supported by NOAA that fund coral reef conservation

activities.  Detailed information on the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation

Grant Program is provided as well.  In 2004 this grant program expects

to award over $5.5 million for activities supporting coral reef science

and management.

 

* News and Highlights:  This section includes highlights from NOAA Coral

Reef News, the Coral Reef Conservation Program's monthly electronic

newsletter.  An archive of past news items is also available.

 

* Outreach and Education:  This new section includes resources for

students interested in learning more about reefs, as well as lesson

plans and other useful information for educators.

 

* About the Program: This page provides background information on the

Coral Reef Conservation Program, as well as contact information for

media inquiries.

 

Among the new resources available on the site are fact sheets that

accompanied a recent billboard and poster campaign designed to increase

awareness of the importance of healthy coral reef ecosystems.  These

fact sheets provide information on how healthy coral reefs provide

valuable services such as income, coastal protection and habitat,

medicines and recreation.

 

The Coral Reef Conservation Program Web site serves as a companion site

to NOAA's Coral Reef Information System, which contains more than 500

records directing users to over 9,500 coral reef products.  CoRIS

provides searchable access to data and information derived from NOAA's

coral reef activities, as well as extensive background information and

essays on coral reefs.  The new Web site provides links to CoRIS and

complements these offerings by providing news and highlights of recent

NOAA coral reef activities.

 

The Coral Reef Conservation Program is a partnership between the NOAA

line offices working on coral reef issues including the National Ocean

Service; the National Marine Fisheries Service; the Office of Oceanic

and Atmospheric Research; and the National Environmental Satellite, Data

and Information Service.

 

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety

through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related

events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal

and marine resources.

 

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov/

Coral Reef Conservation Program: http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov

CoRIS:  http://www.coris.noaa.gov

 

NOAA04-074

Contact: Glenda Powell FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(301) 713-3066 Aug. 5, 2004