Environmental Defense

Since 1990, EDF has worked to secure lasting protection for coral reefs and associated ecosystems both domestically and in international forums. Within the United States EDF's coral reef-related activities are directed towards the protection of the Florida Keys. Their efforts have focused on advocacy based on scientific, policy and legal analysis. EDF helped establish the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and has been active in the design of comprehensive enforceable plans for managing resource use and protecting water quality. Staff scientists are active in the design and implementation of a study of alternative wastewater treatment technologies directed at determining suitable technologies that will remove nutrients effectively and inexpensively from wastewater in the Keys. Building public support for restoration efforts of the Everglades, Florida Bay and the Florida Coral Reef Tract is being done through workshops, coalition building and other advocacy efforts., , Internationally, EDF teamed with the Global Coral Reef Alliance were successful in advocating strong measures to protect coral reefs in intergovernmental negotiations associated with UNCED, the Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity and Agenda 21. They are committed to continue work toward the goal of establishing targets for greenhouse gas concentrations that are likely to be protective of sensitive coral reef ecosystems, using mass coral bleaching as an indicator of warming. EDF is an active participant in the U.S. ICRI., , EDF provides guidance on coral reef conservation to governmental agencies, scientists and activists around the world.