Tesoro a partner in reef program
By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Staff Writer
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has joined with Tesoro Corp. in developing a $230,000 coral reef conservation program in Hawai'i that includes a public school curriculum and a community awareness campaign.
The program, designed to support coral reef conservation and community projects, begins this month and runs through 2009.
"The coral reefs are an integral part of Hawai'i's culture and environment, providing food, recreation and support for Hawai'i's visitor industry," said Al Anderson, Tesoro Hawai'i's refinery manager.
"At a time when funding for environmental projects may fall by the wayside, we're glad to be doing our part to make programs like these a priority."
Coral reefs, sometimes called the rainforests of the sea, shelter thousands of marine plants and animals, protect shores from erosion and are critical to the state's marine tourism industry.
However, they're also under stress from threats such as land-based pollution, alien invasive species, overfishing and recreational overuse.
The program supports various efforts to protect Hawai'i's coral reefs, including the development of a curriculum for seventh-graders in public schools.
A field test among a few schools is scheduled for this fall, with an expansion in January, Tesoro said.
Also involved in the effort is the state Department of Education, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and the Pacific American Foundation.
Other efforts in the program include:
The program also includes cash grants to local groups for coral reef stewardship activities.
"Through this partnership, the projects supported by Tesoro's generous contribution will not only provide direct and measurable conservation results to Hawai'i's coral reefs but also emphasize the importance of the community in marine resource conservation and Tesoro's commitment to that community," said Jeff Trandahl, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
"Building off of the success of this program, NFWF and Tesoro hope to expand and grow this partnership to encompass a greater scope of conservation priorities across a much wider geographic focus over the next several years."
Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.
