2008 IYOR Research Study Update

The International Year of the Reef (IYOR) study continues to develop nicely. Students are now working on qualitatively investigating environmental issues in their community that are related to coral reef decline. Almost 200 students are participating in four states and as part of their investigation they are surveying between 2000-2500 USA residents on their environmental and ocean literacies. The results will be very interesting to analyze and report, we hope to have some initial results by January, 2009.

The students are also running a quantitative scientific experiment utilizing classroom aquariums containing captive raised coral from RSF culture tanks.

Each classroom contains two experimental tanks and two control tanks that each contain three different species of coral.

Next week the students will begin manipulating the temperature of the experimental tanks to collect data on the impact of higher temperatures on coral growth, survival, and reproduction.

Utilizing these two inquiry projects the students are able to compare and contrast the differences between qualitative and quanitative methods of inquiry. It is hoped that these two projects will provide the students involved in the research study with improved critical thinking skills allowing them to understand environmental issues. After the research study has ended, the students should understand how to develop and implement action plans to reduce environmental problems.

2009 Fundraising Drive Beginning

The RSF Board of Directors will be meeting in December to finalize our fundraising goals for 2009. However, one fundraising initiative has already begun. The RSF has established charitable accounts at Kroger food stores for the states of Texas and Louisiana and for Randalls/Tom Thumb grocery stores nationwide. The Kroger and Randalls programs are slightly different, but they both essentially donate 1% of grocery store purchases to the RSF. Through these programs you can save money on gas and groceries and, at no extra cost to you, support the RSF's efforts to slow coral reef decline.

The links below will take you to the Kroger and Randall's sign up instructions. We have set a goal of 500 families to sign up for the Kroger program and 250 families for the Randalls program. We will update periodically with our progress on reaching this goal. We encourage you to take just a couple minutes out of your day to help support coral reefs for the rest of the year.

Kroger Signup Sheet	Randalls Signup Sheet

We are happy to announce that the University of Houston research study titled: "Investigating the International Year of the Reef and Coral Reef Decline" has cleared final approvals and is scheduled to start later this month. The Reef Stewardship Foundation, along with many of our supporters, has funded this research study that should provide many insights into student knowledge of coral reef decline and how the topic can be supported in high school classrooms.

More details can be found on the 2008 IYOR Study page.

To better align our name with our mission, the DIBS Foundation has changed its name to the Reef Stewardship Foundation. Along with the new name we have changed our logo and website. As the Reef Stewardship Foundation continues to grow and expand, we will make changes to reflect our most critical goals and the best scientific, educational, and conservation information available for coral reef stewardship, conservation and protection.

So why the new name "Reef Stewardship Foundation"? The research concerning coral reef decline shows that the rate of coral reef decline is accelerating with a better understanding of the damage already done and what will happen in the future.. With 27% of coral reefs already lost and another 32% predicted to be lost by 2030, time is running out to conserve and protect these beautiful natural wonders and the immense benefits they provide to humanity. Coral reef decline is perhaps one of the most complex environmental problems facing our global society. Damage to coral reefs comes from a wide variety of local, regional and global environmental problems that have a devastating cumulative impact.

The solutions to coral reef decline are a complicated mix of policy and the interactions between science, society, and technology. This confusing mixture of necessary steps can be paralyzing when action becomes necessary. It will take a global effort to solve coral reef decline, and that effort will start with, and ultimately only succeed, with individuals like you and me. If coral reefs are to be saved, individuals will have to commit themselves to individual acts of stewardship. Every person on this planet has an impact on coral reefs through their personal choices and actions. The global action necessary to save coral reefs is daunting, but individual acts of stewardship are easy to accomplish and can have significant collective impacts.

Through individual and collaborative stewardship we can make a difference. Working together through stewardship we can attempt to save the coral reefs, and in most cases, improve our own lives. The balance of nature has been disrupted by humanity, we are the only ones that can restore it before these amazing creatures are lost to us forever.