Corporate Social Responsibility Press Release
provided by 
10.10.2008 - 03:52pm ET
News from:
Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation
Three-Year Global Reef Expedition Announced by the Khaled bin Sultan
Living Oceans Foundation Research and Monitoring Program to Evaluate;Coral Reef Health and Identify Their Threats
(CSRwire) BARCELONA, SPAIN -- (MARKET WIRE) - October 10, 2008 - HRH Prince General
Khaled bin Sultan, founder and Chairman of the Living Oceans Foundation,
the U.S.-headquartered environmental organization that bears his name,
today announced the formal launch of the Foundation's "Global Reef
Expedition: Science Without Borders(R)" at the World Conservation Congress
being held here.
The three-year study of shallow coral reef environments around the world
will begin in 2010 with the resulting scientific information being shared
freely with involved parties and the scientific and regulatory
communities. The expedition will be outfitted, equipped and financed by
the Living Oceans Foundation, which is dedicated to the conservation and
restoration of living oceans and pledges to champion their preservation
through research, education, and a commitment to "Science Without
Borders(R)."
"Our goal is to join the efforts of countries in different parts of the
globe to conserve, and hopefully restore their coral reefs and other
marine resources. The studies will include widespread mapping of
endangered coral reefs by joint teams of world renowned experts -- as an
essential first step towards their management and protection," said the
Foundation's Chairman, Prince Khaled.
"Coral reefs are in grave danger of extinction," explained Prince Khaled.
"They are declining worldwide due to steadily increasing threats from
direct human pressures and indirect effects of climate change.
Significant numbers of the world's reefs are already lost, or are under
either imminent or longer-term risk of collapse."
With support and cooperation from local and regional scientific and
regulatory agencies, the primary scientific goals of the Expedition are to
map and characterize coral reef ecosystems, identify their current status
and major threats, and examine factors that enhance their capacity to
resist, survive and rapidly recover from major disturbance events. This
information is important for developing sound management strategies for
coral reefs.
Prince Khaled has been actively concerned with the world's great oceans
for the past two decades. In the earlier years of his interest he spent
time with leading marine scientists and facilitated ocean research by
providing access to remote sites through his specially outfitted ships.
Eight years ago, while sharing ideas with a small group of
environmentalists, the concept of the Living Oceans Foundation came about.
"Science Without Borders(R)" has become the overarching theme of the
Foundation, where scientists come together from different countries to
solve a common problem -- the threats to the world's coral reefs.
"With our ocean-going research vessel, we are able to access any part of
the world, however remote -- indeed, any country where the local
government recognizes the need for a better understanding of its coral
reef resources and of the associated marine animals and plants," explained
Captain Philip G. Renaud, Executive Director of the Khaled bin Sultan
Living Oceans Foundation.
Captain Renaud said local scientists and managers will be invited to join
the Foundation's research team so that they may share in the experience,
and provide local guidance and knowledge.
This latest expedition builds on the Living Oceans Foundation's solid
experience as a leader of underwater scientific research expeditions. Past
expeditions, under the banner of the Living Ocean's Foundation, have taken
scientists around the world -- to the Mediterranean, the U.S. Virgin
Islands, the Sea of Cortez, the Seychelles, Indonesia, and the Red Sea.
"The Global Reef Expedition: Science Without Borders(R)" will only go
where invited. The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation is actively
seeking support from governments of sovereign countries around the world
to partner with the Expedition's teams of scientists and professionals as
they work towards a better knowledge of coral reef habitats and the
ultimate goal of preserving and protecting the biodiversity, health,
heritage and social and economic value of these precious resources.
The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation is headquartered
just outside of Washington, DC in Landover, Maryland. For more
information, visit http://www.livingoceansfoundation.org
or http://www.globalreefexpedition.com.
For more information please contact:
CAPT Philip G. Renaud, USN (ret), Executive Director
Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation
(301) 577-1288
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