In order to promote the concept of coral reef conservation, the Kenting National Park Headquarters has sponsored the “Coral Reef Bio-diversity and Conservation Week, 2007” from April 30 to May 6, 2007. The series of events was jointly sponsored with the Taiwanese Coral Reef Society, Underwater Photography Association, Taiwan (UPS, Taiwan), Biodiversity Research Center of Academia Sinica, and the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium. The conservation week activities included Sustainable Management Seminar on Taiwan’s Coral Reef, Cleaning up the Sea and Cleaning up the Beach and a Coral Reef Concert. Those who participated in Cleaning up the Sea activities were asked to present diving licenses. Other activities were open to the general public. Inquiry hotline: 08-8861321, extension 240-249.

In recent years, increased interaction between man and ocean have given rise to calls and initiatives to care for the marine environment. The ideological trend of marine conservation, a comprehensive examination of Taiwan coral reefs, cleaning up the seas, and “cleaning up the beaches started by scholars and nature lovers have become important environmental protection issues. For some time now, our educational system has failed to convey a comprehensive knowledge of marine environmental protection, and this has led to a lack of appreciation for marine bio-diversity. Hence, local community members who would like to protect the marine environment find it difficult to take action. This was why the Kenting National Park Headquarters has scheduled this week-long activity. Together with the Taiwan Society of Reef Studies, the park headquarters would like to implement a series of action plans to care for marine ecology. These activities will be launched during the egg-producing season of corals. The timing is meant to awaken the greater attention to the conservation of marine ecology.

The events are also intended to promote correct concepts on marine ecological conservation with the cooperation of marine experts, scholars, underwater photography lovers, diving business operators of Kenting, and the media.It is hoped that all interested parties take part in the discussions that cover local sightseeing businesses and marine environment protection.  

Source:Kenting National Park, 2007-05-02
Re-edited by Taiwan News