NRDC
Environmental action group, combining the grassroots power of 1.3 million members…
The yellowtail snapper is now more abundant in the waters of the Florida Keys, thanks to protected nursery areas.
Project Support: Endangered Oceans Project
The Natural Resources Defense Council’s purpose is to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends.
This giant clam rests undisturbed off the shores of Maug Island.
They work to restore the integrity of the elements that sustain life — air, land and water — and to defend endangered natural places.
NRDC seeks to establish sustainability and good stewardship of the Earth as central ethical imperatives of human society. NRDC affirms the integral place of human beings in the environment.
They strive to protect nature in ways that advance the long-term welfare of present and future generations.
They work to foster the fundamental right of all people to have a voice in decisions that affect their environment. We seek to break down the pattern of disproportionate environmental burdens borne by people of color and others who face social or economic inequities. Ultimately, NRDC strives to help create a new way of life for humankind, one that can be sustained indefinitely without fouling or depleting the resources that support all life on Earth.
Reviving the World’s Oceans:
Rocky reefs provide important habitat for many seaweeds, invertebrates and fish.
Powerful forces have pushed the world’s oceans to the brink of ecological collapse. NRDC believes marine vitality can be restored by ending overfishing, creating marine protected areas and improving oceans governance. By focusing on these solutions, we can achieve the broadest, most long-lasting benefits for our oceans and those who rely on the more than 2 million oceans-related jobs in America. NRDC will also combat emerging threats, such as carbon pollution that has caused ocean waters to become overly acidic and climate change that has led to ice melts which expose the Arctic Ocean to fishing, shipping, drilling, and mining.
Experts:
Brad Sewell, Senior Attorney - Most of his advocacy is focused on protecting and restoring ocean and coastal resources in the mid-Atlantic and New England regions, particularly around the NY/NJ harbor and bight. He has also worked to save the Florida Everglades for the last fifteen years. Brad is an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of Law and Columbia’s School of Public Health, Division of Environmental Sciences. He has a JD and MPH from Columbia and a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University.
Michael Jasny, Senior Policy Analyst - Michael grew up in an industrialized part of New Jersey, unconcerned about environmental issues (or, indeed, nature) until he read one of John McPhee’s books on geology and had a late conversion experience. He has been to law school and graduate school, and worked in human rights law before joining NRDC. In the last few years he has focused on marine mammal conservation.
Lisa Suatoni, Senior Scientist - Has a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Yale University and a masters from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Lisa works with NRDC’s ocean programs to preserve and restore ocean ecosystems where she helps take scientific discoveries and turn them into laws that will protect the ocean. She is a scientist within a team of policy experts, lobbyists, and lawyers providing advice about various aspects of marine science.
David Newman, Oceans Program Attorney - First joined NRDC as a litigation fellow, working on fisheries and offshore oil and gas issues. After some time working on bioenergy issues in Kenya, he rejoined NRDC’s Ocean Program in New York in June, 2010. His current work involves using law, policy, science, and public outreach to restore the Nation’s wild fisheries to sustainable levels. David also work on issues related to sustainable seafood, marine spatial planning, and addressing the natural resource damage from the Gulf oil spill.
Ocean explorer Philippe Cousteau narrates this short video about the urgent need to protect the precious and mysterious underwater canyons and seamounts of the Atlantic Coast.
Resources/Media:
NRDC Website