October 2012 E-Current

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E-Current
October 2012

In this Issue: Destination: Temperate San Francisco [2] •
Leadership Changes Announced [3] • Our Land of Water [4] • The Other Great Reef [5]

Featured Location: Honduras [6]
CORAL at TEDx Tegucigalpa
TEDx logo At CORAL, we love thinking outside the boat. That’s why we’re big fans of TED, the 28-year-old nonprofit that started as a conference to bring big thinkers together from the worlds of Technology, Entertainment, and Design. TED’s scope has broadened considerably since its inception to now include the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers on just about any subject. In 2009, the organization added an independent, community-based lecture series known as TEDx.

Coral reef conservation was recently the focus of a TEDx presentation, thanks to Jenny Myton, CORAL’s Honduras Field Manager. Jenny and her husband, Ian Drysdale—who works for our partner organization, Healthy Reefs Initiative—were featured at TEDx’s forum in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa on July 27. Jenny was instrumental in the formation of the world-renowned Roatan Marine Park and helped forge and push through legislation passed this year to give an added layer of protection to Honduras’ Cordelia Banks. Needless to say, Jenny and Ian did us proud.
Their presentation (in Spanish) can be seen here » [7]
Learn more about our projects in Honduras » [8]

Help the Reefs Quick Tip
Everyday actions matter when it comes to saving coral reefs—even if you're nowhere near a reef. CORAL has compiled a handy-dandy list [9] of stuff you can do—or not do—to take a stand, right where you are.

Coral Reefs in the News [10]

Half of Great Barrier Reef Lost in Past 3 Decades [11]
Source: CBS News

As the Oceans Turn Acidic, Scientists Report a Strange Finding: Hope [12]
Source: OnEarth Blog

Climate is Changing the Great Barrier Reef [13]
Source: Phys.org

How Dredging Affects Corals [14]
Source: Sciencenetwork WA

Vancouver City Council to Debate Ban on Shark Fins [15]
Source: The Vancouver Sun

More News... [16]

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Get Your CORAL Calendar Today! » [18]
The 2013 CORAL calendar might just be our best yet—and your copy is on the way if you’re a Friend of the Reef monthly donor or have made a one-time donation of $50 this year. If not, no worries—just go to coral.org/calendar to make your gift now. We'll be delighted to send a copy of our stunning calendar your way.

		Destination: Temperate San Francisco They came from around the planet, armed with suitcases full of layered clothing for which they normally don’t have any use. From September 17-21, CORAL’s field teams from Fiji, Hawaii, Honduras, Indonesia, and Mexico converged in San Francisco for our fourth annual field summit. During the weeklong meeting, the folks on the front lines of our coral reef conservation efforts gave updates on some of our key initiatives—including water quality and user fees—and learned how to build on the successes and challenges of their colleagues in other countries. It wasn’t all work and no play, however. San Francisco-based staff and several Board members joined the field reps for dinner at the home of one of our local supporters (where the rooftop deck provided a perfect opportunity to make use of those packed layers) and we wrapped up the week with a (mostly) traditional Fijian kava ceremony. [19]View photos of the field summit » [20]

		Leadership Changes Announced [21]During a Board meeting held in conjunction with the field summit, Jim Tolonen was voted in as CORAL’s new Board Chair. Jim, who marked the 50th anniversary of his diving certification earlier this year, has been a member of CORAL’s Board since 2009. Jim replaces Bill Jesse, whose term began in early 2010. Bill has served on CORAL’s Board since 2007 and will continue to be active on the Board. During the meeting, we also bid a fond farewell to outgoing Board member Curt Berrien. One of Curt’s most notable achievements during his three-year term? Heading the committee which hired Executive Director Michael Webster in 2011. Thanks to Bill and Curt for their leadership and vision … and here’s to Jim, our new Board leader! Read bios for our entire Board of Directors » [22]

		Our Land of Water Earlier this year, we announced that—thanks to funding from the Save Our Seas Foundation—CORAL coordinated a multitude of passionate partners to produce a ten-minute film highlighting the powerful link between healthy shark populations, healthy coral reefs, and healthy human communities in Indonesia. This movie is one of the many tools we’ve produced to raise awareness about the critical role that sharks play in Indonesia’s future—economically, socially, and culturally. We’re excited to let you know that the film is now available online and we hope you check it out. Watch "Our Land of Water" » [23]

		The Other Great Reef “Central America’s Mesoamerican Reef is half the length of its famous Australian counterpart, but in many ways more remarkable.” Those are the words accompanying the stunning images of the Mesoamerican Reef in a recent photo gallery and story in National Geographic magazine. One of the featured photos is of Cordelia Banks, the crown jewel of Honduras. CORAL was instrumental in legislation passed earlier this year which gave Cordelia Banks protection as a Site of Special Wildlife Importance. Check out photographer Brian Skerry’s photos of the Mesoamerican Reef » [24] Read Kenneth Brower's accompanying story » [25]

* Photo Credits and Notes:
Banner Photo: Banda Api Volcano, Indonesia
Photographer: Jeff Yonover
Large Center Photo: CORAL Calendar
Photographer: Josef Litt
Left Side Photo: TEDx Poster
Photographer: Courtesy of TEDx Tegucigalpa
Thumbnails: 1) CORAL Staff; 2) Courtesy of Jim Tolonen; 3) Courtesy of Save Our Seas Foundation; 4) Brian Skerry, National Geographic