Event: A New Era for U.S.-Cuba Relations on Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation
April 23, 2009 by Ocean Doctor
Event Summary
Cuba sits at the convergence of the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Its coastal waters are dense with islets, keys and reefs that provide critical habitats and spawning grounds for a rich array of fish, endangered sea turtles, manatees and other marine life. Preserving Cuba’s biodiversity is critically important to the natural resources and economies of coastal communities in the United States and other neighboring countries.
Active scientific and management cooperation is needed to address the growing threats to Cuba’s biodiversity including coral reefs, migratory bird habitats, marine mammals and turtles, and biodiversity shared throughout the region. Greater communication and collaboration among scientists, conservation professionals and government agencies could benefit both the United States and Cuba, as well as the shared ecosystems that link both nations.
On April 28, the Brookings Institution and the Environmental Defense Fund will host a discussion on U.S.-Cuba relations on marine and coastal resources conservation. Steve Hamburg, chief scientist for the Environmental Defense Fund, will offer introductory remarks. Brookings Visiting Fellow Vicki Huddleston, former head of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, will give the keynote address. Scott Edwards of the Environmental Defense Fund will moderate a discussion featuring a panel of experts. After the program, the panelists will take audience questions.
Additional information and online registration
Event Information
When:
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
2:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Where:
Falk Auditorium
The Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC
Contact:
Brookings Office of Communications
E-mail: events@brookings.edu
Phone: 202.797.6105
Participants
Introduction
Steve Hamburg
Chief Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund
Keynote Address
Vicki Huddleston
Visiting Fellow, Foreign Policy
Panelists
Dr. David Guggenheim
President, 1Planet1 Ocean
Dr. Robert Hueter
Senior Scientist and Director, Center for Shark Research, Mote Marine Lab
Robert L. Muse
Attorney, Law Offices of Robert L. Muse, Washington, D.C.
Dr. Douglas Rader
Chief Oceans Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund
Daniel Whittle
Senior Attorney and Director, Southeast Oceans Program, Environmental Defense Fund
Moderator:
Scott Edwards
Director, Latin America and Caribbean Oceans Program, Environmental Defense Fund
Additional information and online registration
We're working around the clock to help our Cuban colleagues prepare for the possibility of an oil spill from the BP Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico. None of this work was anticipated, so we need your help to fund our efforts and ensure that we're prepared in advance should the worst occur. 
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