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Upcoming reports on marine park proposal
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Posted on May 08 2008
Amid the many letters of support for the concept of a national-park-of-the-sea in the northernmost Mariana Islands are a number of lengthy and repetitive letters in opposition—all from one individual. These letters offer a blizzard of inaccurate assertions and unsupported claims—perhaps in the hope this will make up for the apparent lack of public opposition to the proposed marine park.
We at the Pew Environment Group support the idea of a park in the Northern Marina Islands because we believe it will offer long-term benefits for the environment and for fisheries, and it will also generate economic activity and jobs locally through new federal funding for management, research and monitoring. Moreover, the international recognition generated from designation of a world-class marine park will enhance the reputation of the Commonwealth and bring favorable attention that will help support CNMI’s tourism economy.
We understand that additional information will help people better understand the implications of the marine park-in-the-sea proposal. To facilitate that, the Pew Environment Group recently commissioned two studies that will provide detailed information that will help the CNMI public to better assess for themselves the merits of the proposed park. One report will summarize key information on some of the resources and values of the waters around Uracus, Maug and Asuncion islands. The second study is an analysis of the estimated economic benefits—and costs—that will result from the designation of a marine park. We will distribute these reports when they are available and hope they will help set the record straight and ensure that the information being disseminated is both accurate and balanced.
[B]Jay Nelson[/B] [I]Director – Global Ocean LegacyThe Pew Environment Group
Juneau, Alaska[/I]
