World's Largest Marine Reserve Declared Ray Lilley in Wellington, New Zealand
Associated Press
February 15, 2008
The tiny Pacific islands nation of Kiribati declared the world's largest marine protected area Thursday—a California-sized ocean wilderness that includes pristine reefs and eight coral atolls teeming with fish and birds.
The reserve conserves one of Earth's last intact oceanic coral archipelago ecosystems.
Kiribati Environment Minister Tetapo Nakara said the government wanted to conserve the area's "biological diversity."
"The coral reefs and bird populations of the islands are unique, virtually untouched by man—a true wilderness of natural beauty," he said Thursday in announcing the marine reserve.
"Om" 
"Reef on" 
Good News... 
Wow. That's big. COOL. 
