The general meeting of International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) was held in Tokyo on April 23 and 24, 2007. At the meeting, it was decided to develop the Action Plan toward the 2008 International Year of the Reef (IYOR). The "Resolution on Coral Reef and Climate Change" and "Recommendation on Developing Marine Protected Area Networks" were also adopted.

ICRI, an international partnership striving to preserve coral reefs, was originally initiated by eight countries including Japan, the U.S., Australia and France in 1994. At this meeting, participants included 65 people representing 15 countries, 22 international organizations and NGOs. First-time attendees included China, Tuvalu, the International Tropical Timber Organization and the International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems.

The Japanese Ministry of the Environment plans to establish a national promotion committee consisting of various concerned parties for the 2008 IYOR, including scientists, NGOs, local governments, companies, diving shop owners and tourist agents.

http://www.icriforum.org/
http://www.env.go.jp/press/file_view.php?serial=9555&hou_id=8321
http://www.env.go.jp/press/file_view.php?serial=9553&hou_id=8321
- Coral Larvae Dispersed to Save Coral Reefs in Okinawa (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/91-e

Posted: 2007/08/04 01:20:43 PM
Japanese version

TAG Ecosystem , Government