President George Bush plans to establish the world's largest protected ocean site, an act which will preserve a sensitive coral reef ecosystem on islands and atolls near Hawaii.
The 358,400 square kilometer area will be the largest protected area in the world, bigger than all of the national parks of the United States combined, and slightly larger than Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, now the largest protected marine area. The new protected area is home to more than 7,000 marine species. All commercial fishing will be phased out over the next five years.
"Marine biologists and environmental groups, many of whom have clashed bitterly with Mr. Bush over his support for new oil drilling and myriad other areas where they say he has weakened environmental protections, offered him rare praise yesterday."
" 'The President is creating the world's largest marine protected area. It's as important as the establishment of Yellowstone,' said Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defence, an environmental group based in New York City."
FULL STORY: Marine park is world's biggest
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
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Amtrak Takes Lead on Texas Central Rail
The high-speed rail project isn’t a done deal, but if it moves forward, trains could begin operating in 2030.
Maine Approves Rent Relief Program
Legislators hope the assistance program will help struggling low-income households avoid eviction.
How Transit Architecture Impacts Real and Perceived Safety
More than a third of Americans believe major transit systems are too unsafe to ride. The built environment can change that.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
