Mitsubishi Corporation Launches Coral Conservation Studies in Midway Atoll and Seychelles

The "Global Coral Reef Conservation Project," an extensive study for coral reef conservation launched by Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), has embarked on two further components in the United States and the Seychelles, according to a press release from MC on June 15, 2006. The project is part of MC¡Çs commitments to environmental and social responsibilities, and started in 2005 with an ongoing study of techniques to prevent coral bleaching and facilitate coral recovery in Okinawa, Japan.
(ref.: http://www.japanfs.org/db/1118-e)

The study in the United States, led by Dr. Donald Potts from the University of California, Santa Cruz, has been underway in the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge at Midway Islands. Dr. Potts and his team of researchers develop an integrated research program to study physical, chemical and biological impacts of climate change on coral reefs, accumulating knowledge for effective coral reef management.

In the Republic of Seychelles, an island nation in the western Indian Ocean, the project is being carried out in association with Earthwatch Institute Europe, an international environmental NGO, the Coral Reef Research Unit at the University of Essex in the U.K., and Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles. The study involves collection of data in the vicinity of coral reefs, and development of a local structure to promote coral reef conservation.

The findings obtained from the project will be periodically published through its website, magazines or seminars. Volunteers are also being recruited to support the research work, and it is hoped that they will gain a better understanding of environmental issues through participation in the program.

http://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/pr/archive/2006/files/0000002271_file1.pdf
http://www.essex.ac.uk/bs/CRRU/currentevents.htm
http://www.earthwatch.org/site/pp2.asp?c=crLQK3PHLsF&b=1192241
- Mitsubishi Corp. Launches Coral Reef Conservation Project (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1118-e

Posted: 2006/10/04 09:58:42 PM
Japanese version