Published on Coral Reef Alliance (http://www.coral.org)
December 2008 E-Current

E-Current
December 2008		 In this Issue: 2008 Global Vision Awards [1] • The Economic Value of Coral Reefs [2] • CORAL Supporter Shares Her Story [3] • Coral Reef Adventure Film Released [4]
Coral Reef Alliance [5] Manado, Indonesia [6]
visit coral.org [7]| donate [8] [9]

Feature Location: Honduras [10]
Bearded Fireworm (Hermodice carunculata)
Bearded Fireworm (Hermodice carunculata) [11] A free-living fireworm has bundles of tiny, sharp, detachable bristles used for defense purposes. When disturbed, the bristles break off and can easily penetrate the skin, causing an irritating wound. Fireworms can grow to 12 inches in length, and prefer the cover of rocks during the day. They feed on branched corals and gorgonians. This Bearded Fireworm was photographed in Roatan, Honduras. Read more about Honduras » [12]

 

> Help the Reefs Quick Tip [13]
Help protect our planet's coral reefs by giving copies of Reef to your friends and family members this holiday season. Featuring spectacular coral reef photographs and a stunning DVD, Reef is a large-format photography book compiled by the photographers at Scubazoo. CORAL receives a portion of every sale, which makes the purchase of this beautiful book an excellent way to support our conservation work around the world.
More on our site » [14]


Coral Reefs in the News [15]

It's Not Too Late to Save Coral Reefs [16]
Source: Underwater Times

Astonishing Life in Ocean's Depths [17]
Source: Science Daily

Visitors Drive Fish Count [18]
Source: Fiji Times

Recipe For Rescuing Our Reefs [19]
Source: BBC News

Coral Reef Alliance's E-Current Underwater Photo Contest Debuts [20]
Source: Imaging Info

More News... [21]

 

Dear Friends,

 

As we near the end of International Year of the Reef (IYOR) 2008 [22], I am buoyed by the success of IYOR's public awareness efforts, as well as the tremendous response of nations worldwide that are working to protect our coral reefs. More than ten years after the first IYOR, we now have the tools and the groundswell of awareness that are necessary to address coral destruction.

 

But despite our successes this year, we're also facing an unpredictable global economy and some sobering news from the scientific community. Although the consensus at this summer's 11th International Coral Reef Symposium was that well-managed marine protected areas—like the ones CORAL is developing around the world—are the best chance we have to save coral reefs, scientists are now saying that we only have five to seven years to start making the significant changes necessary to slow reef decline.

 

We need to take bold and immediate steps to protect our reefs—and with your continued support, CORAL will lead the way.

 

In this final edition of E-Current for 2008, we honor one of our conservation partners in Mexico, discuss the economic value of coral reef ecosystems, share a story from one of our youngest supporters, and promote the re-release of a beautiful coral reef film.

 

Best wishes to everyone for a happy and healthy holiday season!

Brian Huse

Cheers,

Brian Huse

Brian Huse
Executive Director

 

P.S. The deadline to enter CORAL's E-Current Photo Contest is December 15. Enter today! [23]



[24]Donate Now to Receive a Tax Deduction for 2008 » [25]
There are only four more weeks to contribute for the 2008 tax year. Please donate to CORAL today to help save our planet's spectacular reefs for generations to come.


Amigos [26] CORAL's Conservation Partner Wins a 2008 Travel + Leisure Global Vision Award [27]
A partner with CORAL and Conservation International in the Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative (MARTI), Mexico-based non-governmental organization Amigos de Sian Ka’an was recently awarded Travel + Leisure magazine’s Global Vision Award for Ecological Conservation.
Read the story » [28]
 
The Economic Value of Coral Reefs [29] The Economic Value of Coral Reefs [30]
We often discuss the value of coral reefs for tourism, fisheries, coastal protection, and biodiversity, but now a new publication breaks down the numbers. What are coral reefs actually worth—and what are the costs of coral degradation or loss of ecosystem services?
Read the story » [31]
 
Saje Butler [32] Saje Butler Shares Her Story [33]
Eleven-year-old Saje Butler was so inspired by her experience with sea turtles on a family trip to Hawaii that she felt compelled to share her story with CORAL’s members.
Read the story » [34]
 
Coral Reef IMAX® [35] Coral Reef Adventure Released on Blu-ray Disc [36]
More than five years ago, CORAL was an advisor to the IMAX® film, Coral Reef Adventure, by underwater filmmakers Howard and Michele Hall. The film was recently re-released on BD-Live enabled Blu-ray disc by MacGillivray Freeman Films and its Educational Foundation.
Read the story » [37]
 

 

* Photo Credits and Notes:
Banner Photo: Manado, Indonesia
Photographer: Steve Turek
Left Side Photo: Bearded Fireworm (Hermodice carunculata)
Photographer: Julie Bennett
© 2012 The Coral Reef Alliance 351 California Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA, 1-888-CORAL-REEF info@coral.org
Source URL (retrieved on 05/25/2013 - 21:58): http://www.coral.org/node/4001

Links:
[1] http://www.coral.org/node/4001#story1
[2] http://www.coral.org/node/4001#story2
[3] http://www.coral.org/node/4001#story3
[4] http://www.coral.org/node/4001#story4
[5] http://www.coral.org
[6] http://www.coral.org
[7] http://www.coral.org
[8] https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=22995
[9] http://www.coral.org/%7BVR_F2AF_LINK%7D
[10] http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/caribbean/honduras
[11] http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/caribbean/honduras
[12] http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/caribbean/honduras
[13] http://www.coral.org/what_you_can_do/reef
[14] http://www.coral.org/what_you_can_do/reef
[15] http://www.coral.org/news/headlines
[16] http://www.coral.org/node/3980
[17] http://www.coral.org/node/3989
[18] http://www.coral.org/node/3991
[19] http://www.coral.org/node/3982
[20] http://www.coral.org/node/3994
[21] http://www.coral.org/news/from_the_media
[22] http://www.iyor.org
[23] http://www.coral.org/resources/photo_contest
[24] https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=22995
[25] https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=22995
[26] http://www.coral.org/node/3997
[27] http://www.coral.org/node/3997
[28] http://www.coral.org/node/3997
[29] http://www.coral.org/node/3998
[30] http://www.coral.org/node/3998
[31] http://www.coral.org/node/3998
[32] http://www.coral.org/node/3999
[33] http://www.coral.org/node/3999
[34] http://www.coral.org/node/3999
[35] http://www.coral.org/node/4000
[36] http://www.coral.org/node/4000
[37] http://www.coral.org/node/4000