Over the years, the New York Times Editorial Board has been very vocal about their support for large marine protected areas . They often cite the precedent setting work of past presidents, the historical bi-partisanship nature of American environmental legislation, and important scientific research in their pieces. Their call to action over the years has been a powerful tool in the fight to save our planet.
In May of 2000, President Bill Clinton signed an executive order to “strengthen protection of ocean and coastal resources by creating a comprehensive network of ‘marine protected areas.” This set the stage for George W. Bush’s designation of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in 2006. The Editorial Board praised Bush’s work as an “exemplary use of presidential power” and urged him to continue his work designating protected areas.
Two years later, when President Bush was considering protections for other proposed sites, the NYT Editorial Board once again weighed in on the subject stating that it would be “an achievement for the ages” and adding the direct call to action, “All we can say is: Go for it, Mr. President.” This was soon followed by the declaration of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, and the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument.
The Editorial Board wasted no time in calling on President Barack Obama to expand Papahanaumokuakea a few weeks before he was inaugurated in January 2009. They stated that Obama “should expand the monuments to the 200-mile limit and give them full protection against fishing and other exploitation.”
Throughout the rest of President Obama’s two terms, the Editorial Board continued to show their support for the creation of large marine protected areas. After Dr. Graham Edgar’s landmark study identifying the five key features of successful MPAs was published in 2014, the Editorial Board wrote: “Marine protected areas are a clearly positive trend, a reflection of the growing awareness of governments across the globe that the oceans and their bounty are not limitless or indestructible.”
As President Obama’s second term in office reached its final years, the Editorial Board revisited the idea of expanding Papahanaumokuakea in the opinion “Monuments for Future Generations”. They expounded on the need to expand Papahanaumokuakea and to create the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.
But now that there is a new president, they write that we are facing "The Looting of America's Public Lands." Sad.
In May of 2000, President Bill Clinton signed an executive order to “strengthen protection of ocean and coastal resources by creating a comprehensive network of ‘marine protected areas.” This set the stage for George W. Bush’s designation of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in 2006. The Editorial Board praised Bush’s work as an “exemplary use of presidential power” and urged him to continue his work designating protected areas.
Two years later, when President Bush was considering protections for other proposed sites, the NYT Editorial Board once again weighed in on the subject stating that it would be “an achievement for the ages” and adding the direct call to action, “All we can say is: Go for it, Mr. President.” This was soon followed by the declaration of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, and the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument.
The Editorial Board wasted no time in calling on President Barack Obama to expand Papahanaumokuakea a few weeks before he was inaugurated in January 2009. They stated that Obama “should expand the monuments to the 200-mile limit and give them full protection against fishing and other exploitation.”
Throughout the rest of President Obama’s two terms, the Editorial Board continued to show their support for the creation of large marine protected areas. After Dr. Graham Edgar’s landmark study identifying the five key features of successful MPAs was published in 2014, the Editorial Board wrote: “Marine protected areas are a clearly positive trend, a reflection of the growing awareness of governments across the globe that the oceans and their bounty are not limitless or indestructible.”
As President Obama’s second term in office reached its final years, the Editorial Board revisited the idea of expanding Papahanaumokuakea in the opinion “Monuments for Future Generations”. They expounded on the need to expand Papahanaumokuakea and to create the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.
But now that there is a new president, they write that we are facing "The Looting of America's Public Lands." Sad.