Last Friday, the White House announced that President Obama has quadrupled the size of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, making it the world's largest marine reserve. Yesterday, he visited what is now the world's single largest protected area, after addressing the Pacific Island Conference of Leaders on the eve of the IUCN World Conservation Congress opening.
“I look forward to knowing that 20 years from now, 40 years from now, 100 years from now, this is a place where people can still come to and see what a place like this looks like when it’s not overcrowded and destroyed by human populations,” Obama said.
Read the Associated Press article about his visit, "Obama warns against global warming’s impact on Pacific atoll," by Josh Lederman here.
In addition to expanding and establishing new marine protected areas, the administration has been working to promote good ocean planning and stewardship through the use of science-based decision-making, and to establish and implement the National Ocean Policy.
Marine conservation efforts help sustain our food, jobs and recreation, while also increasing our climate resilience.
Learn more about Papahānaumokuākea here:
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