2008 has been designated the International Year of the Reef (IYOR) by the International Coral Reef Initiative.
IYOR 2008 is a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about the value and importance of coral reefs and threats to their sustainability and to motivate people to take action to protect them.
Who is organizing the campaign?
The International coral Reef Initiative will provide overall direction and leadership for the campaign, but the IYOR activities in each region / country are decided upon and organized at national and local levels. All individuals, governments, corporations, schools and organizations are welcome and actively encouraged to participate in IYOR 2008.
IYOR 2008 is being coordinated with the following goals:
- Strengthen awareness about ecological, economic, social and cultural value of coral reefs and associated ecosystems
- Improve understanding of the critical threats to reefs and generate both practical and innovative solutions to reduce these threats
- Generate urgent action to develop and implement effective management strategies for conservation and sustainable use of these ecosystems
What will happen during the campaign?
The campaign will consist of a wide range of events and activities that will take place throughout the year and around the world. Activities range from science workshops and report publications to beach clean-ups and art exhibits. A complete listing of activities and events can be found on the IYOR event calendar. Participants can also use the calendar to upload and advertise their own campaign activities. Many national and local projects and activities are expected to continue following the conclusion of the IYOR campaign.
You can help by:
- Nominating an IYOR point of contact for your organization
- Encouraging your organization to support the declaration of IYOR 2008
- Spreading the word about IYOR 2008 and information about coral reefs within and beyond your organization
- Adding IYOR 2008 to existing initiatives and/or considering new initiatives to promote IYOR 2008
- Supporting the IYOR 2008 with contributions
- Registering your organization and reporting your achievements by contacting info@iyor.org
For more information, please click here.