International Year of the Reef September Update

People all around the world are working to promote reef conservation through the International Year of the Reef 2008 campaign. Mohammad Ghavasi, for example, organized the Marine Biology Association at Khoramshahr Marine Science & Technology University in Iran. In June, in cooperation with university students, he held a special event as part of the Coral Reef Protection program to support the International Declaration of Reef Rights. During this activity, he printed copies of the Declaration in English and Persian and distributed them to students along with a form to provide their names and e-mails. Mohammad was trained in the Reef Check methodology in April 2007 in Kish Island in the Persian Gulf.

The Brazilian NGO PRO-MAR is holding the seminar “Ano Internacional dos Recifes de Coral” (which translates into IYOR) in Itaparica, Brazil on October 27, 2008 from 9 – 6 PM. During the seminar researchers, NGOs, and government institutions will learn about the development of the National Program for Monitoring the Brazilian Reefs based on Reef Check Brazil, the experimental management of reefs in Itaparica/Bahia/Brasil, achievements and advances in experiments on the conservation of reefs, and Marine Protected Areas. For more information, please visit www.promar.org.br or contact Andrea Ventura at andreaventurassa@gmail.com or (71) 8816-7475.

As part of the IYOR, the Oceanarium in Bournemouth, England, will be holding special talks focused on coral conservation during Surf Week from October 25 to November 2, 2008. Please contact Charlotte Brown at charlotte.brown@reallive.co.uk or visit www.oceanarium.co.uk for more information.

Reef Check is celebrating the IYOR with international photography and video contests… participate! Read more about these contests in this newsletter.

Like the people in the above countries, you too can help protect and rehabilitate reefs in your country of residence by either organizing your own event or joining existing IYOR activities. Visit the www.iyor.org for more information.