A thought-provoking discussion on marine protected areas and how we can leverage the success of Cuba.
More than 18 million tuned in to see Anderson Cooper journey to Cuba to dive with Drs. David E. Guggenheim and Fabián Pina among stunningly healthy coral reefs, surrounded by scores of large sharks and imperiled fish species in the Edward R. Murrow Award-winning 60 MINUTES segment, Gardens of the Queen. Join Guggenheim, the “Ocean Doctor,” for an encore screening, a behind-the-scenes look at the 60 MINUTES presentation and a distinguished panel to discuss the significance of the piece and the important lessons it highlights about marine protected areas (MPAs) and Cuba’s unique example.
Named by Christopher Columbus to honor Queen Isabel, Cuba’s Jardines de la Reina, or Gardens of the Queen, is one of the healthiest coral reef ecosystems remaining in the Caribbean. In a world where coral reefs are dying, the corals in the Gardens of the Queen are flourishing, and like a living time machine, the Gardens likely resemble the healthy coral reefs Columbus saw, avoiding the rapid decline so common throughout the Caribbean and the rest of the world. What makes this ecosystem so healthy? What are the implications for coral reefs elsewhere? What is the role of diving in this special ecosystem? And how is this ecosystem bringing Americans and Cubans closer together? Join us to learn more.