International Year of the Reef 2008

IYOR Hawai‘i
(you will be re-directed to a non-NOAA server)

IYOR International
(you will be re-directed to a non-NOAA server)

IYOR Hawai‘i 2008:
As part of the global campaign to raise awareness about the value and importance of the coral reefs and threats to their sustainability, Hawai‘i will host various events and workshops. In suport of these efforts the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument will be promoting the International Year of the Reef in printed materials and on-line. The Monument will also assist at local events.

Local Events:
Friday, January 25 - O‘ahu IYOR Launch Event: 10:00am to 2:00pm at the State Capitol, Third floor. Nainoa Thompson will be the guest speaker. There will be educational booths, displays, sco-friendy pupu and hands-on demonstrations. For more information, please contact Emma Anders, IYOR Outreach Coordinator at 721-6946.

IYOR Background:
The International Year of the Reef is an ambitious programme designed to effectively communicate to disparate target audiences, the value and importance of the world’s coral reefs and the threats to the reefs’ sustainability, and to motivate target audiences to take action to protect coral reefs.

The first IYOR was declared and implemented in 1997 in response to the increasing threats and loss of coral reefs and associated ecosystems. It was a global effort to raise awareness and understanding of coral reefs and the threats they face, and support related conservation, research and management efforts. Despite its success in raising global awareness of coral reefs and associated ecosystems, ten years later, there remains an urgent need to increase awareness, to take action, further conserve and manage coral reefs and associated ecosystems, and appreciate their value to humanity. With this in mind, the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) and its members designated 2008 as the International Year of the Reef.