NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program

9th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment

December 8, 2008Kacky Andrews, Program Manager

What Led to the CRCP’s Creation?

1995: Major worldwide bleaching event → coral mortality on a global scale

1997: International Year of the Reef → popular and political awareness

1998: E.O. on Coral Reef Protection → government mandate for action

2000: Coral Reef Conservation Act → funding & expansion of mandate

What is the Purpose of the CRCP?

MISSION

To support effective management and sound science to preserve, sustain,

and restore valuable coral reef

ecosystems for future generations

Brief History of CRCP Existence

• Implements Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000• Appropriations for the program began in FY01

and have consistently averaged around $26 M since its inception

• The CRCP operates as a matrix program spanning across 4 NOAA Line Offices: NOS, NMFS, OAR, and NESDIS

• CRCA Reauthorization making progress

What Does the CRCP Do?

• Supports Management Implementation

• Research & Modeling

• Mapping & Monitoring• Education & Outreach

• Coordination

CRCP External Review

• Purpose: To obtain independent assessment of effectiveness and recommendations for improvement

• 7 experts in management and science• Big take home messages:

– Narrow and sharpen priorities– Reduce assessments and increase on-the-

ground conservation activities

CRCP Roadmap for the Future• “Response” to

recommendations• 7 guiding principles• Primary objective:

address coral reef management needs

• Extensive internal and external comment

• 3 priority threats

Priority Threat: Adverse Effects of Fishing

Priority Threat: Land-Based Sources of Pollution

Priority Threat: Climate Change

Threat-based Working Groups

Charge to each Panel: • Recommend long-term goals (20 years) for

addressing threat• Recommend objectives (5 years) for reaching

goals• Suggest performance measures for all

objectives• Prioritize goals and objectives

Timeline for Working Groups

• Formed in October: updates posted on web

• Draft goals and objectives by end of March

• Comment period open month of April

• Finalized goals and objectives by end of May

• WE NEED YOUR INPUT

Worth Conserving

Any Questions?