Arnold Palacios
GOVERNOR Arnold I. Palacios on Thursday issued Executive Order 2025-001 designating coral reefs as the CNMI’s “critical natural infrastructure.”
He said the CNMI recognizes the benefits and importance of coral reefs and is “justly proud of the efforts we have exerted in order to preserve the coral reefs of our island.”
Palacios signed the executive order at the conclusion of the 49th U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Meeting, which the CNMI government hosted at Crowne Plaza Resort’s Hibiscus Hall on Thursday.
Earlier last week, the task force members, accompanied by the governor, toured Managaha, American Memorial Park, and other locations on the island.
Other activities related to the meeting have been held since Monday last week.
“Recognition of coral reefs as critical, natural infrastructure demonstrates political support for nature-based solutions to improve and restore the health of our coral reefs and ocean ecosystems,” Palacios stated in his executive order.
He said the CNMI government, its agencies, bureaus, departments, and other instrumentalities “shall coordinate to seek increased funding from federal agencies to protect, conserve and restore the Commonwealth’s critical natural infrastructure of coral reefs to the extent possible, especially before and after disasters.”
In addition, the CNMI government will “take action to protect, maintain, conserve, enhance, and restore the natural infrastructure of coral reefs in the Commonwealth, including by taking administrative, enforcement, conservation, restoration and enhancement actions, and shall incorporate this directive and any other forthcoming natural infrastructure laws about coral reefs into policies and procedures, as well as rules and regulations, wherever applicable.”