The creation of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) is one of the most fascinating and inspiring conservation stories out there. Dr. Greg Stone, of Conservation International and the New England Aquarium was invited to tell that story for the Mission Blue TED talks. Here's the full 18-minute video.



The talk features some amazing photography by Brian Skerry, who also gave a TED talk recently (you can see it here). During the talk you'll also see parts of the Phoenix Islands seamount fly through that was posted on this blog in March.

The ocean stories don't end with the talk, though. Read more from Greg with his posts from the 2009 PIPA expedition and the 2008 Sea of Cortez expedition. You'll also want to track down the inside story of the other adventures he mentions. The 2001 Antarctica Expedition is covered in the book Ice Island: Expedition to Antarctica's Largest Iceberg, and this documentary.


Still from the video of Greg Stone's TED Talk presenting the story of PIPA


Kiribati President Anote Tong (left) and Greg Stone, then New England Aquarium Vice President of Global Marine Programs

You can also find out more from the people mentioned in the talk. For example, the dive master that first interested Greg in the Phoenix Islands, Rob Barrel, wrote his recollections of the genesis of PIPA in this post, and Dr. David Obura has also posted his observations of coral bleaching and conservation here. See more of the visionary leader Greg describes, president Anote Tong, in these award ceremony photos from is visit to the New England Aquarium in 2008.