The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), a partnership among governments, international organizations, and non-government organizations throughout the world, has designated 2008 as the International Year of the Reef (IYOR 2008) to celebrate one of Earth’s most precious, fragile, and diverse ecosystems. By raising awareness and understanding of coral reefs, IYOR 08 aims to promote urgent conservation and management policies to best protect our coral reefs on a global scale.

Over the last few decades, the health of coral reefs and their associated ecosystems (mangroves, seagrass beds, estuaries, etc.) have degraded considerably worldwide. Marine resources within and surrounding coral reefs have also significantly declined, primarily due to human influences. An International Year of the Reef 1997 successfully generated outreach activities and local and regional events with participation from over 225 organizations in 50 countries and territories. Although considerable steps have been made over the past 10 years to foster coral reef conservation, research and management efforts, coral reefs around the world are still under threat.

The overall objectives of the International Year of the Reef 2008 (IYOR 2008) are to:

• Strengthen awareness about the ecological, economic, social and cultural value of coral reefs and associated ecosystems;
• Improve understanding of the critical threats to coral reefs and generate both practical and innovative solutions to reduce these threats; and
• Generate urgent action at all levels to develop and implement effective management strategies for conservation and sustainable use of these ecosystems.

The USVI approach to IYOR 08 will focus on celebrating coral reefs for their human-associated values to our island communities in order to foster appreciation and guardianship over these local treasures. Check out the Upcoming Events list on the VIRC&D Website to find out about IYOR08 activities happening in St. Croix!

Show your support for our reefs - sign Reef Check's International Declaration of Reef Rights! It is quick and easy and will help give greater voice to our issues in the Virgin Islands! Reef Check plans to present the Declaration of Reef Rights, along with a list of one million names, to all coral reef country governments in January 2009. The purpose of this pledge is to highlight the high value of coral reefs and to encourage all people and governments to support coral reef conservation.

For more information about IYOR 08 please visit the www.iyor.org website or send your inquiries to info@iyor.org. If you are interested in becoming involved in IYOR 08 efforts in the USVI, please contact Karlyn Langjahr at karlyn.langjahr@dpnr.gov.vi or 340-773-3367 ext. 22 or Emily Tyner at 340-692-4144 or etyner@uvi.edu.