HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Resolution 207-37 (COR) seeks to designate the island’s coral reefs as essential infrastructure, allowing access to federal funds for hazard mitigation.
Introduced by Sen. William A. Parkinson, the grant program is similar to Puerto Rico’s recent designation of their coral reefs as essential infrastructure. The U.S. territory was awarded $3 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Parkinson highlighted the research collected from the University of California at Santa Cruz, revealing the importance of the coral reefs, which act as breakwaters that reduce wave energy by up to 97%. This results in a reduction in the power of wave erosion, which limits possible damage to coastal regions.
“In the face of nature’s mightiest challenges, from surging floods to fierce typhoons, it’s not just our man-made barriers, but the coral reefs that stand as a testament to nature’s own resilience. As they protect us, so must we champion their preservation. For in safeguarding them, we secure a more resilient future for generations to come,” Parkinson said.
Regions with healthy reefs often witness significantly reduced damage costs during major storms. Beyond infrastructure, reefs protect fisheries, an essential source of food security, according to the senator.
“By designating coral reefs as essential infrastructure, vital in protecting our coastlines from storm surges and floods, we can avail of federal funds for resilient infrastructure like Puerto Rico already has for reef protection, restoration and rehabilitation.”
Large waves crash into the reef on Thursday, April 6, 2023, along East Hagåtña Bay.
William Parkinson
