Caribbean Coral Reef Conference Sparks Controversy San Juan, Puerto Rico December 8th 2011   A recent Caribbean coral reef assembly was confronted by strong criticism from coral reef restoration scientists and advocates. The critics wore black "OBSERVADOR" t-shirts, and distributed leaflets expressing concerns regarding the "top down" approach to The Nature Conservancy's recent movement into the Caribbean region.   Leaflets distributed by the protesters stated their support for the implementation of science-based coral reef management - indicating that Caribbean corals have no time to lose. The leaflets connected conference participants to an "observadorcarib" website and linked via QR codes directly to a Washington Post web page entitled: "Big Green: Inside the Nature Conservancy," as well as to an electronic petition requesting that Federal Agency Administrator's "abandon these failed, top-down approaches, influenced by 'big green' - Washington partnerships which lack genuine local participation"   The petition concludes with: "Only together can we expect to influence the tide of rapid coral decline in the Caribbean."   Sign Petition     P.O. Box 750 Isla de Culebra Puerto Rico 00775 787-556-6234 email: info@coralations.org