World Surfing Reserves Annual Meeting & Program News
Following the first-ever nomination and selection process in 2009, the very first surf spots will be enshrined and protected in 2010 as World Surfing Reserves. In December 2009 the program's 23-member Vision Council met to hammer out final details of the program and approve a short list of waves slated for potential enshrinement. Of these, the goal is for two surf spots to be selected and enshrined in 2010.
The annual meeting of the Vision Council culminated a year's worth of significant progress in making World Surfing Reserves a reality, including setting up the program structure, processes and governance, as well as completing the program's first nomination and selection process for potential World Surfing Reserve sites around the world. In all, 125 sites from 34 different countries were nominated in 2009, underscoring the true global nature of the program. The program was officially launched in December 2008 at the Value of Waves Roundtable. The fundamental goal for this annual meeting was to get approval from the Vision Council to move forward with actual surf spot enshrinements in 2010.
After some healthy debate and discussion of critical issues, Vision Council approval was achieved! Staff is now working on the steps towards several potential enshrinements. Which sites will become the very first World Surfing Reserves? Stay tuned as Save The Waves will divulge the prioritized sites in the coming months, as we establish partnerships with groups of local activists (Local Steering Committees) and continue the path towards proactive surf spot protection!
If you want to participate and volunteer in this exciting chapter of Save The Waves please contact us and/or send your CV so we can plan where you might be able to help the cause.
> Background information about World Surfing Reserves.
Photo: World Surfing Reserves Vision Council discusses its 2010 enshrinements.
