WASHINGTON -- November 30 -- News Advisory: Global Assessment of Coral Reefs to be Released Dec. 6 in Washington

DETAILS:

The Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2004 will be released at a press briefing at the headquarters of World Wildlife Fund in Washington, D.C. This bi-annual survey of the health of the world's coral reefs identifies which reefs are recovering and which are degrading. It also details the sources of threats to corals, and solutions for halting and reversing reef's decline. Four years ago, the assessment found that 59 percent of reefs were threatened from factors such as climate change, runoff pollution and destructive fishing methods.

At the press briefing, scientists will provide the latest numbers on coral reefs, identifying the reefs with the greatest problems and those that have recovered the most since the 1998 bleaching event when unusually warm water effectively destroyed 16 percent of the world's coral reefs. There will be a question and answer period after brief statements from the speakers.

WHEN:

11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Monday, Dec. 6

WHERE:

World Wildlife Fund Headquarters, 1250 24th St., N.W. (between M and N streets)

WHO:

Clive Wilkinson, Coordinator, Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network

John Turner, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

Conrad Lautenbacher, Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Warren Evans, Director of Environment, World Bank

Brooks Yeager, World Wildlife Fund, Vice President, Global Threats

This news release and associated material can be found on http://www.worldwildlife.org

EDITORS NOTE:

B-Roll and Photographs Available

Known in the United States as World Wildlife Fund and recognized worldwide by its panda logo, WWF leads international efforts to protect endangered species and their habitats and to conserve the diversity of life on Earth. Now in its fifth decade, WWF, the global conservation organization, works in more than 100 countries around the world.

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