| Montreal, 7/06/2005 – On the eve of World Oceans Day, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) and Marine Biology Conservation Institute (MCBI) today launched a new book and map that identify 28 aquatic environments that marine experts consider essential to safeguarding the biological diversity of the west coast of North America.
The book, entitled Priority Conservation Areas: Baja California to the Bering Sea, presents key information regarding the biodiversity, ecological significance and threats found in each area. The priority conservation areas (PCAs) were identified on the basis of their ecological significance to North America, and the opportunities to advance conservation efforts given the threats faced by biodiversity.
"The selection of this set of marine conservation areas is a major achievement," says Hans Herrmann, head of the Conservation of Biodiversity program at the CEC. "Never before have we seen an international, scientific effort map out marine conservation priorities at this scale."
The PCAs encompass several unique and biologically rich areas that are especially important for migratory species, such as Mexico's Laguna San Ignacio—a key breeding and calving habitat for the gray whale. Other PCAs, like Canada's Queen Charlotte Strait are rich in eelgrass and kelp forests that provide habitats for a great diversity of fish. And in the United States, the common dolpin can be seen traveling in pods up to 1,000 individuals in the Channel Islands.
An associated map, "B2B: A blueprint for conservation from Baja California to the Bering Sea," illustrates the 28 PCAs in the context of existing marine protected areas. It also highlights three migratory species that are currently the focus of trinational conservation efforts: the humpback whale, the pink-footed shearwater and leatherback turtle. All three marine species were chosen last year as subjects for the first North American Conservation Action Plans. The plans are intended to establish a common conservation approach to reduce threats, share expertise and provide key information to the public and wildlife officials.
The map and 132-page book are available upon request while supplies last. An online version of the book and map can be downloaded at www.cec.org.
For more information, please contact:
Spencer Tripp
Commission for Environmental Cooperation
(514) 350-4331 |
Lance Morgan
Marine Conservation Biology Institute
(707) 996-3437 |
| 
