Initiatives | Local Action Strategies
Coral Reef Local Action Strategies
Local Action Strategies (LAS) are a U.S. Coral Reef Task Force led initiative to identify and implement priority actions needed to reduce key threats to valuable coral reef resources in each U.S. coral reef jurisdiction. In 2002, the Task Force adopted the “Puerto Rico Resolution” which calls for the development of three-year LAS by each of the seven U.S. jurisdictions containing coral reefs: Florida, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. These LAS are locally-driven roadmaps for collaborative and cooperative action among federal, state, territory, and non-governmental partners.
The LAS initiative is in different stages with diverse approaches within each jurisdiction; sometimes with multiple LAS on different timelines. Implementation of LAS projects began in 2003-2004 and NOAA and the Task Force are currently working with each jurisdiction to complete implementation of their first round of LAS. Several jurisdictions are now completing the core elements of their initial LAS and are beginning to examine how best to revise their LAS to more effectively achieve coral reef management objectives in the future.
A report entitled, “Status of Local Action Strategies to Conserve and Protect Coral Reefs: 2002-2006” identifies the major accomplishments of the LAS effort and is expected to be published by December 2007.
For additional information, contact Dana Wusinich-Mendez or Bill Millhouser.