Assistant Secretary of State John F. Turner to Make Remarks at Release of Global Assessment of Coral Reefs

Assistant Secretary of State John F. Turner, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, will make remarks on the release of "The Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2004," a bi-annual survey of the health of the world’s coral reefs. The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, a group of scientists from countries worldwide, receives support from organizations including the Department of State, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the World Bank and the World Wildlife Fund to publish this survey.

Press is invited to attend the on-the-record, on camera launch, which will be held Monday, December 6, 2004, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the World Wildlife Fund Headquarters, 1250 24^th Street NW, Washington, D.C.

Assistant Secretary Turner will be joined by scientists who contributed to the report as well as Conrad Lautenbacher, Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Warren Evans, Director of Environment for the World Bank, and Brooks Yeager, Vice President Global Threats for the World Wildlife Fund.

For further information, please contact Megan Sowards, Bureau of International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State at (202) 647-1169.

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