Did you know that oceans are the least-explored places on Earth, with 95% yet to be explored? We need to protect ocean life and ecosystems that have been and still need to be explored.. As a follow up to Monday’s post about ocean conservation organizations around the world, today’s post offers you even more resources to check out.

A lagoon at the Palmyra Atoll about 1,000 miles south of Hawai, purchased by The Nature Conservancy is now managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo credit: © Robert Shallenberger

The Marine Conservation Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the world’s oceans, and their goal is “maintaining and recovering bountiful, diverse and healthy oceans now and for generations to come.” They also bring human beings into the equation, saying “Because the oceans are the Earth’s biggest life support system, everyone has a big stake in maintaining their integrity.” Their site is split up into three main sections: Identify Vulnerable Ecosystems, Advocate, and Protect. Explore each of these three sections to learn more and get related links, like to their Conservation Programs focused on ocean acidification and coral conservation, among others.

The Nature Conservancy has an Oceans and Coasts site about “Healthy Oceans for People and Nature,” saying “Our lives require healthy oceans for oxygen, food, jobs, medicines and more.” They have information about how they restore coastal habitats and how they are helping people and marine life adapt to climate change. Their projects are in 30 countries and U.S. territories and they operate with the goal of “Creating lasting conservation results that benefit marine life, local communities and economies.” Learn more about coral reefs, the pervasive threat of invasive species, and international efforts to conserve sea turtles, among other things.

For even more links and resources, check out Marine Bio, which has a list of marine conservation resources.  You can search by Species (coral reefs, manatees, polar bears, etc.) or by Issue (climate change, pollution, sustainable tourism, etc.) Or you can simply scroll down the alphabetical list of marine conservation organizations, starting with the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) all the way down to the World Wildlife Fund. To search by country, scroll down to the list of Regional Initiatives, which includes multiple organizations in Australia, New Zealand, the Sub-Antarctic Islands, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Coral reefs, like this on in the Red Sea, are just one part of oceans that are being threatened.

Oceans cover 71 percent of the Earth’s surface and contain 97 percent of its water. They are vital to our existence and yet they are being severely threatened by a variety of factors: from warming due to climate change, to pollution, to overfishing. Thankfully there are organizations working to conserve, protect and restore our planet’s oceans.

The Ocean Conservancy is one such organization. Operating under the slogan, “Start a Sea Change,” they “believe it’s time to look beneath the surface to see where the health of our planet really begins. It’s time to recognize the source that sustains us day today with the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe…to discover that all living things are connected to the ocean.” There are a variety of topics related to our oceans: including climate change, beaches, sustainable fishing, etc. on the site.

Check out this short video to learn more about the Ocean Conservancy:

Another international organization is Oceana, which has campaigns on a wide variety of ocean-related topics, from climate and energy to promoting sustainable fishing.  They have a Living Blue section with useful posts like “10 Things You Can Do to Save the Oceans,” a Sustainable Seafood Guide and even Sustainable Seafood Recipes.  There is a list of Green Heroes and other helpful information.

Philippe and Alexandra Cousteau, the grandchildren of the famous ocean explorer and conservationist Jacques-Eve Cousteau, has an organization called Earth Echo International, whose primary mission is “empower youth to take action that restores and protects our water planet.” They go on to explain, “It is the next 50 years in which we can embrace the new promise of a just, healthy, ad abundant water planet. In order to achieve this, a whole new generation must take action to protect and restore our water planet.” http://www.earthecho.org/ Interested in joining in their programs and challenges? How about the Water Planet Challenge, Students Reporting Environmental Action through Media, or Protect Wild Dolphins? For information on all of these, click here.

The Ocean Conservancy says, “It’s time to understand that going green starts with living blue,” meaning environmentalism is integrally tied to the protection of our oceans and waterways. Do you agree? And do you participate in any water conservation programs in your area?

Global Conversations Graphic

Welcome to the Global Conversations: Climate blog!  This blog is a resource hub for youth, activists, environmentalists and concerned citizens. Here you can voice the climate change issues that most concern you, and how you and your community are being affected.  This blog is an educational resource, but will also connect you to experts ranging from scientists to political leaders to authors to students.  We want this blog to be the place you turn for answers to your questions, links to more material related to the topic, and insights from people around the world at the forefront of the climate change efforts. Each month, we’ll feature a different theme related to climate change.  Check back tomorrow to find out what this month’s theme is, how it is related to climate change, and get links to wonderful resources!

Not sure exactly what climate change is or how you can use this blog to find out more and get great ideas?  Check out the About Us section for definitions, links, and an explanation of how we think you can use this blog to take your own steps towards mitigating and adapting to climate change today!