Kathy Castor: “as we reauthorize the Tropical Forest Conservation Act, we take an important and critical new step to help the world…”

“as we reauthorize the Tropical Forest Conservation Act, we take an important and critical new step to help the world preserve and restore its natural resources and vital ecosystems. This reauthorization will continue our efforts to preserve the world's forests, coral reefs, and associated coastal marine ecosystems. The Tropical Forest Conservation Act will create an invaluable debt-for-nature exchange that not only benefits the global economy, but also the global environment. Protecting our natural resources is a daunting responsibility, and coral reefs present unique challenges to protect and rebuild. They are fragile, slow-growing, and easily damaged by passing ships, changes in temperature, or severe weather. Despite these challenges, they are an integral part of our environment. Corals support economies, protect coastlines, and act as ecosystems for thousands of species of sea life. They may also provide information for the development of new drugs or understandings of human disease. The Florida Aquarium, a non-profit education and research institution in Tampa, has extensive experience in developing cutting edge technologies and protocols for coral conservation, including how to safely introduce cultured coral onto wild reefs. This facility has pioneered the methods and technology needed to confidently direct a coral health certificate program wherein aquacultured corals are certified as safe for introduction into the wild.”