Washington, DC (February 25, 2009) – The National Aquarium in Washington celebrated the success of the International Year of the Reef campaign by co-hosting a special reception with partners including the Coral Reef Alliance, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, Project Aware, Shark Trust Wines and the World Wildlife Fund.

The event took place on Wednesday, February 25 from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM. Honored guests included Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (CNMI), Wyland (Marine Life Artist) and Roger McManus (Conservation International).

Reef conservation remains a global environmental imperative. The Year of the Reef campaign was initiated to motivate people to take action to protect fragile coral reefs around the world. By teaching their importance and the threats to their sustainability, people make changes that positively impact the health of these fragile and beautiful ecosystems.

As part of the event, artist, conservationist, and scuba diver Wyland provided a live painting demonstration. Host of new series for PBS and the recent documentary for Discovery Channel, “A Brush with Giants,” Wyland’s work is sought by millions of collectors and his galleries throughout the United States are considered a must-see on the itineraries of travelers everywhere. His equally successful Wyland Foundation, in partnership with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, is actively engaged in teaching millions of students around engaged in teaching millions of students around our oceans, rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands. The artist’s recent half-mile long mural for the Beijing Olympic Cultural Festival brought together children from 110 countries in support of marine conservation and was installed in the National Mall in October to commemorate the opening of the Sant Ocean Hall.

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