Monument Day

After a long fight lead by the Pew Environmental Group, Beautify CNMI and one of the best environmental advocates and Jedi bloggers out there, the Marianas National Monument is being designated by executive order today. Check out amazing photos of the newly protected areas at the Washington Post.



Despite intense setbacks, marine protection advocates have created an inspiring public outreach campaign that has successfully made the case to the people of CNMI and to an administration that is showing more openness to environmental protection now than at any other time over the last eight years.

The Aquarium is especially happy to see this protected area put into effect, because it builds on recent conservation successes with the nearby Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). Last year, the Saipan Blogger commented on this blog referencing VP of Global Marine Programs Greg Stone's efforts with PIPA. Today that interest in large-scale ocean protection is becoming a reality. The people of CNMI are providing a bright future for themselves, the local wildlife and the world, just as the people of Kiribati did under the leadership of President Anote Tong.