U.S. CORAL REEF TASK FORCE Meeting
Washington, D.C.
March 1-2, 2007

Gov Togiola attends
US Coral Reef Task Force meeting in DC

(WASHINGTON DC) - Governor Togiola Tulafono, was among the US Territory leaders and agency representatives who attended the opening session of the 17th meeting of the United States Coral Reef Task Force in Washington, DC. The meeting drew nearly 200 federal, state and territorial officials, scientists, marine managers, nongovernmental organizations and other environmental decision makers to the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, DC. American Samoa's Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources Director Ufagafa Ray Tulafono and Department of Commerce Deputy Director Lelei Peau also attended the meeting.

Governor Togiola updated the Task Force on the recent territorial effort to address global climate change and provided members with recommendations for advancing coral reef conservation efforts. The Governor reemphasized the need for the Task Force to facilitate immediate action to address both local and global climate change threats to coral reefs. Representatives from American Samoa, that included Jean Brighouse and Christianera Tuitele of the Department of Commerce, presented recent accomplishments of local governmental and community conservation efforts. DOC Deputy Director Lelei Pea, chairman of the All Islands Committee (AIC), also presented a report on the activities and proposals for resolutions for the AIC.

The Task Force received updates on the Coral Marine Protected Area Report, the National Marine Protected Area Framework, a regional forum for Oceania on marine managed areas and World Heritage, and the status of planning for the 2008 International Coral Reef Symposium in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Task Force members also passed 6 resolutions to further the efforts of coral reef management and conservation in the US states and territories.

American Samoa will be hosting the next U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting in August 2007. Some of the themes to be centerpiece discussions and working group sessions will focus on marine protected areas network and climate change at this August meeting.

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