The U.S. National Coral Reef Action Strategy's 13 Goals for Addressing Threats to Coral Reefs Worldwide

The following are highlights of the thirteen goals:

Mapping
Develop comprehensive digital maps of all shallow coral reef ecosystems in the U.S. and characterize priority moderate-depth reef systems by 2009.

Assessments, Inventories, and Monitoring
Implement a nationally coordinated program to inventory, assess, and monitor U.S. coral reefs, which links new efforts to successful, on-going programs.

Strategic Research
Conduct additional research to improve our knowledge of the processes that regulate the health of coral reef ecosystems, and identify the causes, consequences, and solutions to reef decline.

Social and Economic Factors
Assess the human dimension of coral reef resources and incorporate social, economic, and cultural values into conservation and management activities. Understanding the value and human use of coral reefs is critical to reducing the threats and sustaining healthy reef systems and the communities that depend on them.

Marine Protected Areas
Improve management of coral reef resources through a strengthened and expanded network of coral reef marine protected areas. Strengthen networks of coral reef protected areas and, by 2010, protect 20% of U.S. coral reefs as marine reserves.

Sustainable Fishing
Reduce the impacts of fishing and other extractive uses to protect coral reef ecosystems and ensure sustainable fisheries.

Managing Coastal Impacts
Reduce the impact of human coastal activities on coral reef ecosystems. States, territories, and federal agency are working together to better manage activities on land and water that affect coral reef resources including habitat destruction, sediment runoff, and various other pollutants.

Reduce Pollution
Significantly reduce the amounts, sources, and cumulative impacts of pollution on coral reefs by fully implementing existing federal and state authorities.

Restoration
Increase the capability of federal and nonfederal managers to efficiently and effectively restore injured or degraded coral reefs.

Outreach and Education
Increase awareness and understanding of the ecological, cultural, and socioeconomic importance of coral reef ecosystems among the widest possible audience.

International Threats
Exercise global leadership through commitment to and collaboration with domestic and international partners to protect and conserve coral reefs and associated ecosystems globally.

International Trade
Reduce the adverse impacts of the collection of and trade in coral reef animals, encourage more responsible trade, and encourage the conservation and management of coral reef ecosystems, both domestically and internationally.

Coordination, Accountability, and Partnerships
Increase communication, collaboration, and accountability within and among Task Force members.

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