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PROGRAM COORDINATION FOR THE GULF ECOLOGICAL MANAGMENT SITES (GEMS) PROGRAM
Impact/Purpose:
The purpose of this project is to provide support to the GEMS Program by supporting the efforts of the state programs and the Gulf of Mexico Program. The information generated through the GEMS Program will be used by Gulf of Mexico states and federal agencies located in the Gulf of Mexico states. The Gulf of Mexico Foundation Team will provide:
GEMS Program coordination to maintain and improve communication and awareness about the program.
Coordination with the GEMS Information Management Network to further refine and develop the GEMS information network to improve its effectiveness as a tool for disseminating information and for site planning and management.
Coordination with the GEMS Public Outreach and Education activities of the five Gulf states to promote awareness, understanding, and commitment to stewardship.
Funding resource strategies to be applied at a local and regional level to support continued development of the GEMS network.
Description:
The Gulf Ecological Management Site (GEMS) Program is an initiative of the Gulf of Mexico Program (GMP) and the five Gulf of Mexico states. It provides a regional framework for focusing attention on ecologically important Gulf habitats. The GEMS Program coordinates and utilizes existing federal, state, local and private programs and resources to identify GEMS in each state, build an informational database, and foster cooperative conservation of GEMS. A GEMS is a geographic area that has special ecological significance to the continued production of fish, wildlife and other natural resources or that represents unique habitats. One-hundred and two special ecological areas have been identified as GEMS by the individual Gulf states. Information about each site, such as size, boundaries, ecological characteristics and current management status have been included in a Gulf-wide information system, and this information is publicly available via the Internet for all of the Gulf states. The goals of the GEMS Program are to: CPromote information exchange about the ecology and management of GEMS; CIncrease awareness of the national and international significance of GEMS; CImprove understanding of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem; and CFurther conservation through interagency coordination; public/private partnerships and targeting of research, monitoring, action projects and other activities. -- Identify and assist in obtaining funding to better mange and preserve these areas to maintain and/or enhance their productivity and aesthtic value for current and future generations