Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation prepares for launch of 4-year global reef expedition

Having recently observed its 10th anniversary, the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation is preparing for its next scientific research and education project, the Global Reef Expedition, which will launch in 2011 and continue through 2014. 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. The resulting scientific findings will be shared freely with participating countries and scientific and regulatory organizations, and will be used by countries for developing sound management strategies for coral reefs.

"The Foundation's multi-disciplinary network of marine scientists empowered by a state-of-the-art research ship will enable us to conduct relevant scientific surveys in participating countries to give governments a better understanding of their coral reef resources," said Captain Philip G. Renaud, Executive Director of the Living Oceans Foundation. "And, equally important, while we conduct scientific research of coral reef ecosystems during the Global Reef Expedition, we will have an unprecedented opportunity to provide marine science education for the generations who will become the stewards of these valuable yet very vulnerable resources."

During 2011, the Expedition team intends to conduct coral reef surveys in the Bahamas and other countries within the Caribbean region. In 2012, current plans are to conduct research on the coral reefs of French Polynesia, Australia, and other Pacific coral reef regions. The Expedition team also will conduct education programs in all of the participating countries and regions, which will include the involvement of local educators and students on board the ship. Additionally, multi-media technologies will be used to bring the ongoing research into students' classrooms, and coral conservation curricula will be developed for use in schools worldwide during the Expedition.

Provided by Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation