International Coral Reef Initiative General Meeting

1
U.S. Coral Reef Task ForcePlans for IYOR 2008
Alissa Barron U.S. NOAA
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
International Coral Reef Initiative General
Meeting April 23, 2007
2
U.S. Coral Reef Task Force An Overview

• Established 1998 by Presidential Executive Order
  13089
• Members 12 Federal Agencies 7 States,
  Territories, and Commonwealths 3 Freely
  Associated States
• Mission To increase coordination, collaboration
  and implementation of U.S. efforts to preserve
  and protect coral reef ecosystems.
• Goals 13 major goals in U.S. National Action
  Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs (2000)
• Strategies
• National Coral Reef Action Strategy (2002)
• 3-Year Local Action Strategies (LAS)(2004)
• Specific Issue Strategies

3
U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Vision for IYOR 2008
The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) will
utilize IYOR to

• Enhance implementation of the USCRTF mission and
  goals.
• Increase/Broaden participation, partnerships, and
  collaborative action.
• Communicate the issues, threats, and actions
  required for coral reef conservation, along with
  the mission and goals of the USCRTF members,
  individually and collectively.

4
U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Organizational
Structure for IYOR 2008
The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force is planning its
IYOR activities through

• An Inter-Agency process that capitalizes on the
  contributions and expertise of each individual
  USCRTF member agencies.
• A Cross- Sector approach that promotes
  participation and collaboration of our many
  non-government partners and highlights the
  diversity of U.S. coral reef conservation issues.

5
U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Role in IYOR 2008

• Support local, regional and international
  activities.
• Promote involvement by all partners.
• Plan and facilitate USCRTF-hosted activities.
• Develop a Renewed Call To Action to supplement,
  assess and update the U.S. National Action
  Strategy.
• Support efforts of the International Coral Reef
  Initiative (ICRI) and U.S. co-Secretariat of ICRI

6
U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Inter-Agency Planning
Progress to Date

• Endorsed IYOR 2008 through 2 resolutions
• Identified points of contact for a USCRTF IYoR
  Working Group
• Developed a draft Plan of Action and draft Scope
  of Work for inter-agency and USCRTF efforts
• Working to identify funding availability within
  each agency
• Next Steps By the next USCRTF meeting (August
  2007)
• Finalize draft Plan of Action and Scope of Work,
  including new and existing products and events
• Solidify financing plan for Plan of Action

7
U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Possible IYOR 2008
Activities

• Create a U.S. calendar of IYOR events (local to
  national), to feed into the ICRI clearinghouse
• Collaboratively develop key messages and target
  audiences for US campaign
• Host decision makers forum(s) to engage policy
  makers
• Host funders forum(s) to increase resources ()

8
U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Possible IYOR 2008
Activities (Cont)

• Host seminar series and symposia to bring
  attention to key issues, and to share and
  transfer knowledge
• Launch new initiatives to address key needs
• Create report card on effectiveness of USCRTF for
  10 year anniversary
• Others?

9
U.S. Coral Reef Task Force IYOR 2008 Calendar

• Feb/March 2008 USCRTF Meeting (Washington, DC)
• Spring 2008 Smithsonian Ocean Hall Opens
• June 2008 World Ocean Day
• July 2008 International Coral Reef Symposium
• Report State of U.S. Reef Ecosystems
• Report State of Global Reef Ecosystems
• September 2008 International Coastal Cleanup
• Fall 2008 USCRTF Meeting (regional location tbd)

10
Questions on USCRTF IYOR
Efforts? Inter-agency Beth.Dieveney_at_noaa.gov C
ross-sector Alissa.Barron_at_noaa.gov

• Thank You!