Office of the Secretary |
Joan Moody
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For Immediate Release:October 21, 2003 |
202-208-3280
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Assistant Secretary
Scarlett Lauds Partnership |
The St. Croix East End Marine Park will be administered by the government of the Virgin Islands. It adjoins Buck Island National Reef Monument, which is administered by the Interior Department's National Park Service. The new marine park--home to a barrier reef; patch reefs; colorful coral heads; a vast array of fish, sponges, endangered turtles; and one of the island's few remaining mangrove systems--utilizes a zoning strategy to allow for multiple uses within the boundaries of the park while minimizing conflicting uses. "With funding from the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force and a commitment from Governor Turnbull, the designation of St. Croix East End Marine Park marks a milestone in protecting marine ecosystems in the U.S. Virgin Islands," says Assistant Secretary Scarlett. "The success of this effort springs from a strong public-private partnership that brings real conservation results." As early as 1960, the Department of the Interior made recommendations to designate the east end of St. Croix as a nature preserve. The strategy to initiate a collaborative process among key agencies, guided by an advisory committee, was critical to the effort to enact new legislation for the protection of the resources in the marine park. President Bush signed legislation to establish the St. Croix East End Marine Park early in 2003. To recognize outstanding partnership efforts such as those that led to the creation of the park, Coastal America established a national awards program in 1997. Each award recipient will receive a plaque and a letter of congratulations from President Bush stating, "The partnership you forged has brought together Federal agencies, local government, environmental organizations, and community groups in a collaborative effort to establish the St. Croix East End Marine Park in order to protect and preserve coral reef and mangrove ecosystems. My administration strongly supports efforts to bring together collective resources to meet common goals and better our environment." The Coastal America Partnership was established in 1992 to protect, preserve and restore our coastal watersheds by integrating federal actions with state and local government and non-governmental efforts. The federal partners include the Departments of Agriculture, Air Force, Army, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Navy, State, Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Executive Office of the President. The list of those recognized for their contributions to St. Croix East End Marine Park follows. List of Awardees:
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