Great Lakes Forever is a public education initiative designed to raise awareness of the value and vulnerability of the Great Lakes. The program, initially launched in 2004 by Biodiversity Project, was expanded to Chicago in 2005 with the support of the John G. Shedd Aquarium and other Chicago and regional partners.

The primary goal of the Great Lakes Forever campaign is to create a broader, more engaged constituency that is primed to take action to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Great Lakes Forever frames the discussion of the Lakes around four key issues: water quality, water quantity, habitat protection and invasive species control. Since the inception of the campaign, Biodiversity Project has combined several communications components in an effort to reach the public on these issues including: media outreach (press kits), educational advertising (print and radio), point-of-experience signs (at lakefront areas), coastal coasters (educational coasters distributed to lake-side bars and restaurants) and Web-based outreach.

Most recently Biodiversity Project has partnered with Anheuser-Busch to produce and distribute educational coasters throughout the Great Lakes region. In 2008 Biodiversity Project and Anheuser-Busch are sponsoring their second annual Great Lakes photo contest. The two grand prize winners will have their photos featured on this year's Great Lakes coasters. Biodiversity Project and Anheuser-Busch are also teaming up to create and broadcast Great Lakes "eco-minutes" on Chicago-based radio stations.

For more information, visit Great Lakes Forever .