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US Coral Reef Task Force Federal Member Coral Profiles

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US Coral Reef Task Force Federal Member Coral Profiles U.S.U.S. CoralCoral ReefReef TaskTask ForceForce FederalFederal MemberMember CoralCoral ProfilesProfiles May 2009 About Coral Profiles These Coral Profi les provide a concise overview of the United States Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) Federal members’ mission, role, authorities, programs, activities, and resources (grants, tools, training, etc) related to coral reefs and associated ecosystems. The intent of the Coral Profi les is to better capture each Federal member’s role in coral reef conservation and to facilitate better planning and collaborative action among and between USCRTF members, including jurisdictions, and help the USCRTF better direct its collective activities. The Coral Profi les present and introduce individual Federal agencies to the general public, and highlight funding opportunities available to jurisdictions and NGOs. The Coral Profi les also contain many coral reef highlights from each agency. Below is a sample from each one: ● NOAA CRCP: The Coral Reef Conservation Program has a large grant program funding major coral reef research and management initiatives in the US and abroad. ● FWS: Fish and Wildlife Service manages 15 coral reef National Wildlife Refuges and 4 National Marine Monuments which represent the largest and most ecologically comprehensive series of fully-protected marine areas under unifi ed conservation management in the world. ● MMS: Since the 1970s, the Mineral Management Service has sponsored long-term monitoring in the coral reef ecosystem of the Flower Garden Banks located in the Gulf of Mexico. ● NPS: The National Park Service has 10 National Parks in the Pacifi c, Florida and the Caribbean with coral reef ecosystems. ● OIA: Offi ce of Insular Aff airs, through its Coral Reef Initiative, funds coral reef conservation and management projects in the US insular areas. ● USGS: The U.S. Geological Survey developed a “Strategic Science for Coral Ecosystems 2007-2011,” a comprehensive planning document encompassing marine reserves and reef structure, pollution and local impacts, and responses to global change. ● USAID: The US Agency for International Development provides core support to the WorldFish Center, which published a “Lessons Learned and Best Practices in the Management of Coral Reefs,” providing a comprehensive analysis of 30 projects worldwide. ● USCG: The US Coast Guard provides assets to assist with the removal of fi shing gear and other debris aff ecting coral reefs; removing over 510 metric tons from Hawai`i since 1996. ● USDA: The Department of Agriculture staff produces and maintains Field Offi ce Technical Guides, with information on conservation, water, air and biological resources, as well as maps, cultural resources, and protected species. ● DOD - Navy: The Department of Defense funds a vast array of environmental research via the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program, focusing the areas of cleanup, compliance, conservation and pollution prevention technologies. ● USACE: The Army Corps of Engineers maintains an Institute for Water Resources, off ering education and training opportunities in water resource management. ● DOS: The Department of State provides substantial support to the International Coral Reef Initiative and the Coral Triangle Initiative. ● EPA: The Environmental Protection Agency maintains the Catalog of Federal Funding Sources for Watershed Protection, a database with funding from many Federal agencies. ● NASA: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration conducts cutting-edge coral monitoring and imaging research, including the Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project, which maps all reefs found in all tropical oceans. ● NSF: The National Science Foundation supports projects targeted to advancing knowledge of coral reef ecosystems, including long-term and inter-disciplinary research. Agency Contributors This document was produced with the assistance and collaboration of the members and staff of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF). This report involved collecting, assessing, and presenting information on coral reef activities from the Federal members of the USCRTF. We thank all of the individuals who committed their time to drafting this report. Lead Editors: Paulo Maurin – [email protected] Sarah Bobbe – [email protected] These individuals drafted or assisted in drafting the coral profile sections for their agencies: NOAA Beth Dieveney, Steve Thur DOI Terry Holman FWS Andrew Gude, Bret Wolfe MMS Tom Ahlfeld, Gregory Boland NPS Cliff McCreedy OIA Karen Koltes USGS Colleen Charles, Gary Brewer, Mike Field USAID Barbara Best USCG LCDR Chris Barrows, Steven Tucker, Chris German USDA Howard Hankin DOD - Navy Tom Egeland, Lorri Schwartz, Susan Levitt DOD - USACE Russell Kaiser, Joe Wilson DOS Christine Dawson EPA Hazel Groman, Lucinda Power NASA Paula Bontempi, Liane Guild NSF Phil Taylor Contents Photo Credits....................................................................................................... 6 The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force....................................................................... 7 NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program................................................. 11 Department of the Interior............................................................................ 18 Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI)..................................................................... 19 Minerals Management Service (DOI)........................................................ 27 The National Park Service (DOI).................................................................. 30 Offi ce of Insular Aff airs (DOI)........................................................................ 35 U.S. Geological Survey (DOI)......................................................................... 39 U.S. Agency for International Development........................................... 46 U. S. Coast Guard............................................................................................... 53 U.S. Department of Agriculture................................................................... 64 Department of Defense - Navy.................................................................... 72 Department of Defense - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.................... 80 Department of State........................................................................................ 85 Environmental Protection Agency............................................................. 88 National Aeronautics & Space Administration....................................... 98 National Science Foundation.......................................................................106 Acronyms............................................................................................................110 Photo Credits Cover Photo - Corals of the Dendrophylliidae family, Turbinaria genus, on the Tokai Maru, in Apra Harbor, Guam (David Burdick). Page 4 & 5 - Coral reef in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia (David Burdick). Page 6 - A shrimp (Rhynchocinetes sp.) on a colony of star coral, Montastrea faveolata, at East Bank, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (David Burdick). Other photographs in this report were provided by respective agency staff . The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force The United States Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) was established in 1998 by Presidential Executive Order 13089 to lead U.S. efforts to preserve and protect coral reef ecosystems. Co- chaired by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce though the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the USCRTF includes leaders of 12 Federal agencies, seven U.S. states, territories, commonwealths, and three Freely Associated States. The USCRTF helps build partnerships, strategies, and support for on-the-ground action to conserve coral reefs. Presidential Executive Order “13089: Coral Reef Protection” was issued to enhance the role of Federal agencies in the preservation and restoration of coral reef ecosystems. The Executive Order establishes a policy framework to guide Federal action and its impacts on coral reefs, and mandates that: (1) The Federal agencies utilize their programs and authorities to protect and enhance the conditions of U.S. coral reef ecosystems, and (2) To the extent permitted by law, ensure that any actions they authorize, fund or carry out will not degrade the conditions of such ecosystems. The USCRTF is responsible for overseeing implementation of the Executive Order, and developing and implementing coordinated efforts to map and monitor U.S. coral reefs; research the causes of, and solutions to coral reef decline; reduce and mitigate coral reef degradation from pollution, over-fishing and other causes; and implement strategies to promote conservation and sustainable use of coral reefs internationally. In 2000, the USCRTF adopted the National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs (National Action Plan), the first national blueprint for U.S. domestic and international action to address the growing coral reef crisis. The National Action Plan outlines 13 integrated conservation strategies within two fundamental themes to address the most pressing challenges facing reefs today. To help implement the National Action Plan, the USCRTF launched a variety of initiatives and provides a forum to support collaborative action of its members and partner organizations. In 2002, the USCRTF developed the U.S. Coral Reef National Action Strategy (National Action Strategy) to further implement the National Action Plan as called for
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