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Last Updated: 11/30/2009

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State: California
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Monday, November 30, 2009 
As 2009 draws to a close, many people begin to think of holiday gifts and charitable donations. Of the many important causes in the world today, we at Seacology believe that island conservation is paramount. Climate change and globalization are ravaging fragile island environments and cultures daily. Seacology works directly with the islanders to meet their critical needs, which we support in exchange for the protection of land or marine habitat. Our win-win strategy has changed the lives of countless islanders around the world: to date, Seacology has helped to build 86 facilities such as schools, community centers, solar energy systems, and other critically-needed structures, and funded 36 programs providing scholarships, vital medical services and supplies for island communities. We have already saved 1,812,720 acres of marine ecosystems and 161,476 acres of incredibly precious terrestrial habitat, and that’s not including the new projects we will be starting in 2010.

Seacology is proud to hold Charity Navigator’s highest four-star rating for sound fiscal management for the third consecutive year. With our small staff and minimal bureaucracy, your donations go directly to protecting islands. Donations can be made through our online form, or by contacting us at (510) 559-3505. Seacology will gladly send a holiday card to anyone you may wish to honor with your gift; simply note your wishes when making the donation. We hope that you remember Seacology during this season of giving—even a small gift can mean so much to the island people and places that need our help.

From all of us here at Seacology, best wishes for a joyful holiday season!

7:08 PM 
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009 
Abwatuntora, Vanuatu - Construction of a nakamal (traditional community hall) in exchange the villages are willing to extend an established marine reserve covering over 10 hectares as a no-take marine reserve for additional 10 years minimum at Abwatuntora, North Pentecost, Vanuatu.
Seacology’s Field Representative in Vanuatu, Kevin Tari, recently attended the opening ceremony of Seacology’s project in Abwatuntura, a small village on Pentecost Island in Vanuatu. The nakamal, or traditional community hall, is an important part of village life. The newly constructed building is brightly decorated both inside and out, and located on the edge of a hill with a spectacular view of nearby islands. The hall includes a full bathroom and kitchen, as well as a septic system.

The opening ceremony was a community celebration, with villagers as well as visitors, as well as several regional government officials, a local pastor, and the village chief. The attendees were entertained with traditional dances, singing, and a feast. Kevin was invited to make a speech on behalf of Seacology, and he and the chief jointly cut a ribbon to symbolize the official opening of the nakamal.

It is always gratifying to see the success of a project, and we at Seacology were especially touched by this kind message sent from the chiefs of Abwatuntora:

“On behalf of the people of Abwatuntora in Pentecost we sincerely say thank you very much to Seacology, the board of directors and donors for recognizing the much needed need of the people of Abwatuntora and for supporting our initiative with the marine conservation. This is a historical event for this community and is the first ever development of its kind to the people of Abwatuntora since independence. We will make good use of the nakamal we now call ‘Overview Nakamal.’ Because the facilities are of high standard that cannot be found anywhere here in north Pentecost, we will setup a housing committee to manage the running of the overview Nakamal as well as the Conservation project.

The people of Abwatuntora will work together to ensure our conservation continue to be respected because we have seen why our people are struggling and why we cannot enjoy the rich and abundant sea food we and our children today should be enjoying.

We value deeply your contribution and support to the people of this land and Vanuatu as a whole. May your organization prosper to help others more like us. May God bless Seacoology, board of directors, donors, staffs and field representatives around the world.”
6:55 PM 
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Monday, October 05, 2009 
Each year, the Seacology Prize is awarded to an indigenous islander for exceptional achievement in preserving the environment and culture of any of the world’s 100,000 islands. The Prize highlights the heroic efforts by people who seldom receive any publicity – indigenous leaders who risk their own lives and well-being to protect their island's ecosystems and culture. Since the inception of the Prize in 1992, Seacology has given the award to 18 native islanders in recognition of their innovative and courageous work. The 2009 Seacology Prize winner is Filip Damen, a customary landowner and community organizer from Wanang Province, Papua New Guinea. For his truly noble efforts, Mr. Damen will be awarded $10,000 and honored at a ceremony at the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco, California on October 8, 2009.
Wanang is a small village surrounded by vast lowland rainforests in Papua New Guinea. The villagers practice shifting agriculture, fish in the Wanang River and hunt for wild pigs and cassowaries in their forests. Ten years ago, when the entire area of Lower Ramu was proposed by the PNG government as a logging concession, Filip Damen, an unschooled rural subsistence farmer with deep respect for his forest wilderness and traditions, recognized the threat. He taught himself to read and write and led a group of 11 Wanang village clans to sign a historic conservation deed. This communal deed bound the clans in their refusal to allow loggers or the PNG government to exploit approximately 25,000 acres of their forests.

The lowland tropical rainforests of Papua New Guinea (PNG) shelter many plants and animals found nowhere else. This is the third largest tract of primary tropical forest left on earth – exceeded only by the Amazon and the Congo basin. These forests fulfill essential environmental functions, controlling rainfall, maintaining water supplies, and stabilizing soils in addition to hosting a rich storehouse of some of the planet’s rarest species and plants. Papua New Guinea forests are especially unique in that tribal landowners and subsistence farmers, rather than state governments or large companies, are the primary stakeholders.

Each year 2.5% of the remaining PNG rainforests is degraded by commercial logging and subsistence agriculture. Logging is systematically changing these forests forever, enticing tribal landowners with short-term cash and infrastructure. The results have a devastating effect on the traditional way of life. "In many cases the timber industry has made life harder for the landowners…not only do they face destruction of their environment, but they face destruction of their society." (Greenpeace: "Partners in Crime – Malaysian loggers, timber markets and the politics of self-interest in Papua New Guinea").

Refusing logging meant a loss of potential income for the community. With extraordinary vision, Filip approached the PNG government with support from the Bintang Research Center (a grassroots NGO) to use Wanang for long-term forest research and conservation, on the condition that his people could engage in jobs, healthcare and schooling, developing sustainably without losing their forests, the basis of their cultural heritage.

Under Filip’s leadership, Wanang landowners have joined an international collaboration to study the dynamics of rainforests around the globe and the rainforest’s response to climate change. A new research station is providing advancement for his community. This year, the clans built classrooms out of bush materials, attracted two registered teachers and enrolled over 70 students, including many from villages in the surrounding logging concession.

Filip was born, raised and lives in a traditional village. He has never been overseas and until a few years ago had never ventured beyond Madang Province. Against odds, Filip Damen preserved his forest and led his community to develop a national and regional asset in environmental sciences.

6:00 PM 
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Wednesday, September 30, 2009 
Due to the recent tsunami in Samoa, Seacology is raising funds to help recovery in the local villages where we have projects. If you would like to help, please either send a check (checks made out to Seacology can be sent to Seacology, 1623 Solano Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94707 USA) or donate online. Please make a note in the comments section of your check or the donation form that the gift is for The Samoa Tsunami Emergency Fund. Seacology will continue to seek out more information and update our supporters about the status of our projects and each village's specific situation as communications with Samoa are restored. And as usual, no funds for administration or overhead will be taken from the donated monies, and every cent will be provided to needed disaster relief. 

Please don't forget to note that your donation is for the Samoa Tsunami Emergency Fund - otherwise it will not be delineated as such. Thank you!
5:59 PM 
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Monday, July 13, 2009 
Thanks to your votes and those of many Seacology fans in the People magazine "All-Stars Among Us" competition, executive director Duane Silverstein is currently in St. Louis attending the Major League Baseball All-Star game week representing the Oakland Athletics baseball team on behalf of Seacology.

This is an unprecedented opportunity to place Seacology's important work in the national spotlight. Duane has currently been on an aggressive schedule of events which have so far included a special reception hosted by People magazine, a press conference with San Francisco Giants pitcher and 2008 Cy Young Award Winner Tim Lincecum, photo ops with baseball commissioner Bud Selig and MLB sportscaster Bob Costas, and a Red Carpet Parade for the City of St. Louis, to name just a few. The press conference with Tim Lincecum was particularly lively since he's the starting pitcher for the All-Star game.

The publicity surrounding this event has been clamorous as Barack Obama will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, to be caught by St. Louis Cardinals hero Albert Pujols. During a pregame video shown in the stadium, Obama will join former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter in a seven-minute video that will honor 30 Americans -- each representing one of the MLB franchises -- whom Major League Baseball and People magazine have recognized for service to their communities. Each of the five presidents will be narrating the personal story of a previously selected People magazine All-Star and the team they support. Though Duane and Seacology were not one of those randomly chosen stories to be introduced by a President, there will be an enormous amount of publicity to go around for all of the participants.

This will be an historic night for Obama who will become the first president since Gerald Ford in 1976 to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before an All-Star Game. John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon were the only other presidents who have participated in this honor. In addition, the pregame video will represent the first time all of the living U.S. Presidents have participated in a ceremony together at a sporting event.

The schedule for airing of the People magazine All-Stars Among Us at the MLB All-Star game will be pregame on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at Busch stadium in St. Louis from 7:15pm to 7:25pm, Central Daylight Time (two hours ahead of California, an hour ahead of Colorado, and an hour behind New York). We hope you will be able to watch the ceremonies live or have the opportunity to tape this amazing special event for Seacology and historic event for Major League Baseball.
5:57 PM 
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Friday, May 29, 2009 

View Web Updates for links to the new project pages.


The following projects were approved by Seacology’s Board of Directors at their May 28, 2009 meeting:

CARIBBEAN ISLANDS – “Bottle Bead” Sustainable Livelihood project in exchange for the protection of sea turtles. One of the most serious challenges to sustaining sea turtle conservation in very poor nations is that coastal people have few alternatives to killing sea turtles for food and/or cash. Sea turtles are severely depleted on Caribbean islands due to unmanaged exploitation as well as the lost of important nesting and foraging habitat due to coastal development. The Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST) is launching a pilot project to produce Beach Bottle Beads in Caribbean Island communities. The objective is to use discarded or recycled bottle glass to make beads and jewelry. The products will have small educational/conservation labels and will be sold in local gift shops. Three communities will be selected to receive training based on their capacity to sustain the project, market the beads, and demonstrate that the new skills will reduce pressure to kill sea turtles. This highly replicable project has the potential for expansion throughout the region, with the result of boosting rural incomes and protecting endangered sea turtles. This project is funded by Seacology Japan.

FIJI, Tokou Village, Ovalau Island, Lomaiviti Group – Construction of a community hall in exchange for the establishment of a 365-acre marine reserve for a duration of 10 years. Tokou is a beachside village located approximately three miles from the old Fijian capital, Levuka, on the island of Ovalau. The population of the village is approximately 700. Levuka has tentative status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Tokou is on the southern border of this UNESCO site. Seacology will fund the construction of a much needed community center in exchange for the establishment of a 365-acre marine reserve for a duration of 10 years. The community center would host cultural and social events, and would provide a place for village women to produce handicrafts and organize fundraising activities for the village. Tourist ships are due to begin visiting Levuka in May 2009, and Tokou, which is on visitor itineraries, will greatly benefit from having a venue to host guests.

INDONESIA, Benteng Dewa Village, Flores Island - Community health clinic to help children in support of approximately 14,826 acres of no-take forest reserve. Benteng Dewa, located on the southwest coast of Flores Island, was formally established in 2004 and has a population of 1,580 people in 300 households. The villagers are almost exclusively farmers, tending to rice, corn, sweet potatoes and coconut. The spirit of community volunteer work and traditional law is still strong in this village. Bentang Dewa is one of 27 villages located around the 63,738-acre Mbeliling Forest. The village is situated about a 30-minute drive from the nearest town and is separated by a river located about 1.8 miles from the village, which is impassable by vehicle. Sometimes the villagers cannot access medical care because of this obstacle. Furthermore, malaria is common and health care for children and pre-natal women is severely lacking. The village places health improvement as its highest priority, but a request to the government for medical facilities has been turned down. Seacology will fund a community health clinic in support of 14,826 acres of forest (includes about 618 acres of savannah) as a strict no-take zone for a minimum of 10 years. Birdlife Indonesia is currently drafting a Nature Protection agreement with the involvement of all 27 villages around the Mbeliling Forest in their local dialect that will encompass rules and sanctions of the protected forest. *

INDONESIA, Cunca Lolos Village, Flores Island - Village fresh water system for children and others in exchange for support of 12,355 acres of no-take forest. Cunca Lolos village was recently established in 2001 as a farming settlement and is comprised of a small population of just 152 people in 38 households. Cunca Lolos is one of 27 villages located around the 63,738-acre Mbeliling Forest. A public works fresh water project for the village took place in 2006, but unfortunately the source of water was sulfuric and not suitable for consumption. However, the pipes from this project are still intact and the water is used for irrigation, and for washing hands and feet after working in the fields. Currently, water for cooking and drinking must be hand-carried from a river located more than one half mile away from the village, which takes about 45 minute round-trip by foot. The villagers must first cross the busy Trans-Flores highway in order to get to and from the river, which is of considerable risk to the children who collect water for their families. Seacology will fund a village fresh water system in support of 12,355 acres of forest as a strict no-take zone for a minimum of 10 years. The villagers have identified an abundant and clean spring located just over a mile from the village within Mbeliling Forest. Since 2007, the villagers have played a major role in monitoring the condition of the forest and in planting trees around the water spring. Birdlife Indonesia is currently drafting a Nature Protection agreement with the involvement of all 27 villages around the Mbeliling Forest in their local dialect that will encompass rules and sanctions of the protected forest. *

INDONESIA, Mandalamekar Village, Java - Multi-Purpose Community Building for children and others in support of replanting 72 acres and protecting a total of 267 acres of no-take rainforest. Mandalamekar Village, located in the highlands of West Java, is home to 3,200 people who are mainly engaged in farming. Mandalamekar village recently created its own protected forest area of four sections totaling 267 acres. In 2008, the village took it upon itself to reclaim 74 acres of community land and replanted about 12,000 native tree seedlings. They plan to expand tree-planting activities to cover another 72 acres of degraded forest with about 15,000 seedlings in 2009. Since the main intent of replanting and protecting this forest is to enhance this critical watershed function for the village, the village wants to protect this forest into perpetuity. The forest features several significant waterfalls and is an important habitat for several primate species such as lutungs, the endangered Javan Surili and many kinds of birds. The primary need in Mandalamekar Village is a multi-purpose community building for village meetings, art, culture and recreation. The community is keen to make an agreement to protect the no-take forest in exchange for this much-needed village facility. The village government, village police, village civil defense force and an informal community group called Mitra Alam Muggaran will conduct patrols and build a communication system to facilitate the patrols. *

KENYA, Kiweni, Lamu archipelago - Purchase of moorings for boundary demarcation and anchorage, snorkel gear, solar inverter system, communication and other equipment in exchange for the establishment of a 741-acre community managed marine conservation area for a minimum duration of 10 years. The Lamu archipelago extends from the Kenya/Somalia border to the Tana Delta incorporating the North Banks and the Dodori channels and covers an area of approximately 2,340 square miles. It is a priority conservation area, with Lamu Island a designated World Heritage Site. The coastal and marine resources in the archipelago are increasingly under threat from over-harvesting of resources i.e. corals, pelagic fish, marine turtles, invertebrates; and the use of destructive and unsustainable methods for resource exploitation such as beach seining, drift nets and coral mining. Lamu Marine Conservation Trust (LamCOT), a locally registered community based organization, wishes to establish a 741-acre community managed marine protected area encompassing ecologically fragile coral reefs, fish feeding, breeding and spawning sites. They also wish to continue support patrols and monitoring of turtle nesting sites on Lamu and Manda islands, and education and awareness in four local schools on Lamu Island. In exchange for the establishment of this marine protected area, Seacology will provide funding to purchase boundary demarcation buoys, moorings for anchorage, snorkel gear, a communication system (radios etc.) to support patrol and monitoring of the conservation area, two bandas (shelters) to accommodate patrolling scouts, a solar inverter system for electricity to the system, and a digital camera.

MALAYSIA, Mudung Abun, Belaga District, Sarawak – Integrated community-based micro-hydro power system in support of 1,236 acres of watershed for 30 years. The Kenyah community is one of Borneo’s indigenous tribes that still depend on natural resources for their livelihood. Mudung Abun, which in the Kenyah language means “Cloud Mountain,” describes the location of their village in the remote mountainous region of the Belaga District in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. The community has a population of approximately 300 people who are mostly hill paddy farmers. The Institut Pribumi Malaysia Sarawak (IPIMAS), in collaboration with fellow NGO Partners of Community Organizations (PACOS Trust), are launching a project to promote renewable energy and enhance watershed conservation by building a 50 kilowatt micro-hydro energy system. The electricity from the system will be used to light 22 homes, community verandas, a women’s cooperative sundry shop, food processing center, blacksmithing and welding workshop, and a community hall. The micro-hydro system will replace and eliminate the use of polluting fossil fuels currently used by eight generators and three rice-milling machines, all of which are powered by diesel. This project will eliminate the use of at least 211 gallons of diesel per month. The entire 1,236-acre watershed area will be protected against shifting cultivation, logging, road construction and other extractive development activities. The project will be coordinated by IPIMAS. Past Seacology project partner PACOS Trust will provide technical support, training and advice on how to plan, implement and manage the micro-hydro system.

MEXICO, Seri tribe territory, Gulf of California – Environmental and information signage, and waste/recycling facilities, in support of the conservation of the 298,593-acre Tiburon Island and the 59,238-acre Canal Infiernillo. The territory claimed by the Seri tribe (Comca’ac nation) is extensive and includes Tiburon, which is also the largest island of Mexico (298,593 acres). In 1975, the Mexican government gave the Seri tribe recognition and communal property title to Tiburon Island, Canal Infiernillo (between Tiburon Island and the mainland) and 155 miles of coast. In 1978 the islands within the Seri territory became part of the Natural Protected Area “Islands of the Gulf of California,” consolidating a 1963 presidential decree that designated it a nature preserve; it is also co-administered as an ecological preserve by the environmentally-oriented Seri tribal government. Tiburon Island remains one of the most intact examples of Sonoran Desert habitat, and it contains an abundance of species that are already rare or have disappeared from the mainland. The waters around this island host 34 marine mammal species, including sea lions, blue and fin whales and the world’s most endangered cetacean, a small porpoise called the vaquita. Five species of sea turtles thrive in these waters, and green turtles nest on these beaches. The Seri villages at Punta Chueca, and El Desemboque on mainland Sonora, are home to up to 700 Seri who traditionally practice environmental conservation. Seacology will fund a series of signs located on several islands and on the beaches on the mainland where fishermen land and depart to fish, in support of the continuation of the Seri conservation actions on their islands. It is expected that these signs will help to reduce the impact of the human activities on the island, and reduce the chances of exotic species being introduced, accidentally or intentionally. As well, the two communities will receive funds to build a facility to separate and collect their domestic trash for later recycling by commercial companies from the city of Hermosillo.

SAMOA, Satapuala Village, Upolu Island - Construction of a community hall for school and village functions, and upgrading the village water supply in exchange for the establishment of a 1,600-acre marine conservation area (240 acres no-take) for a minimum duration of 15 years. Satapuala is a coastal village on the north-western side of Upolu Island in Samoa. The village is a traditional village that was relocated in 1942 for the building of the current airport. The village has a population of over 2,000 people and is controlled by the traditional council of chiefs. The growing population has taken a toll on the marine resources, and a conservation program to establish rotating no-take zones within the village’s marine area is anticipated to facilitate the regeneration of marine resources and marine biodiversity for subsistence and regulated commercial use for families. Seacology will fund a new community hall for school and village functions, and upgrade the village water supply system in exchange for the establishment of a 1,600-acre marine conservation area, 15 percent of which (240 acres) will be no-take. Approximately one acre of Rhizophora mangle mangrove forest will also be protected. The goal is to extend the no-take section of the marine reserve to 25 percent within 15 years. The rest of the area is to be managed in a sustainable manner following the Fisheries regulations regarding size of catches; and a ban on the use of illegal substances such as dynamite and cyanide.

VANUATU, Abwatuntora, North Pentecost - Construction of a Nakamal (Chiefs’ Meeting House) in exchange for the extension of an established 185-acre marine reserve as no-take for an additional minimum duration of 10 years. The Province of Penama consists of three islands: Pentecost, Ambae and Maewo, located north of the Vanuatu group. Pentecost is known for one of the most remarkable customs in all of Melanesia, the Naghol, where men make spectacular leaps of courage from high towers built from tree trunks as a gift to the gods to ensure a bountiful yam harvest. The island is the most populated in the Northern Province; however, the people continue to preserve their traditional way of life where survival depends on subsistence farming and traditional fishing. Towards the northern tip of Pentecost Island is Abwatuntora, one of the biggest communities in the area under the leadership of paramount chief Edward Rau. In 1999 Chief Rau led efforts by the community to preserve a portion of their coastal fishing ground covering approximately 185 acres as a no-take marine reserve for a period of 10 years. The marine reserve has been respectfully observed to the present day though there is no recognition from the government to support such an initiative. Abwatuntora has a population of over 300, mostly adults who have a strong respect for its chiefly systems. The community’s traditional meeting house, known as the Nakamal, is in need of replacement. Seacology will fund the construction of a new meeting house as well as a water tank in exchange for the community extending the marine reserve for another 10 years.

*Support for asterisked projects is provided fully or in part by the
Nu Skin Enterprises Force for Good Foundation

5:56 PM 
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Friday, February 06, 2009 
Outside the Sarinbuana buildingExecutive Director Duane Silverstein recently visited two Seacology projects on the island of Bali, Indonesia. In Sarinbuana Seacology provided the funding for a large community center/school auxiliary building in exchange for a 1,975 acre forest reserve. To the right Seacology supporter Carole Shorenstein Hays, Duane Silverstein, field representative Arnaz Mehta and local villagers are shown in front of the Seacology funded building in Sarinbuana. According to Duane, "The building is used on a daily basis by the people of Sarinbuana. A hike into the forest led by a local guide revealed that the provisions of the reserve are being strictly enforced. On the forest trailThe village had erected many signs along the forest trail indicating that the trees could not be cut down. The trees, butterflies and monkeys we saw were breathtaking." Left are Arnaz Mehta, Carole Shorenstein Hays, Duane Silverstein and Antony Their on the forest reserve trail, Sarinbuana.

Duane also visited the Tirtagannga Water Palace where Seacology funded the Planetary Coral Reef Foundation installation of a wastewater garden system that organically breaks down wastewater and produces a rich habitat for vegetation. "The wastewater system is a terrific low tech solution to the disposal of organic waste. The gardens are beautiful and have provided significant benefits to the local residents and the many tourists that visit Tirtagannga." The gardens have now been replicated in several other locations in Indonesia.

7:01 PM 
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Friday, February 06, 2009 

Want to earn money for Seacology without opening your wallet?
Search online at GoodSearch.com!

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You can also shop through GoodShop, where a percentage of each purchase will also go to Seacology. The site is linked to a long list of online retailers including Amazon, Target, and Best Buy, and you will earn money for Seacology with every purchase. Start searching today and donate to Seacology without opening your wallet!

GoodSearch: You Search...We Give!


6:58 PM 
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Wednesday, January 28, 2009 

View Web Updates for links to the new project pages.

The following projects were approved by Seacology’s Board of Directors at their January 17, 2009 meeting:

COOK ISLANDS, Manihiki Atoll - Purchase of two UV water purification units and pump system including spare parts in exchange for the creation of a 72-acre marine reserve for a duration of 30 years. Manihiki is a small atoll in the Northern Cook Islands, approximately 550 miles north of the capital Rarotonga. The extremely low-lying atoll has a population of 400 persons living on the two inhabited islands. As is common with small isolated communities, water is of a major concern on Manihiki, where their only source of potable water is rainwater stored in tanks. Due to prolonged periods of storage, this water can become contaminated and poses a health risk. The people of Manihiki would like assistance in the purchase of two ultra violet water purifying units and pump systems - one for each village - with spare parts. In exchange for this funding, Manihiki will declare 72 acres of their lagoon as a marine reserve for a duration of 30 years.

INDIA, Kavarathi Island, Lakshadweep archipelago – Construction of an
environmental education center in exchange for the establishment of a 500-acre marine protected area for a duration of 10 years. The Lakshadweep archipelago lies in the Arabian Sea at a distance of 155 to 280 miles from the west coast of India. Lakshadweep is considered the smallest Union Territory of India with a population of approximately 60,000 people inhabiting 11 of the 36 islands. Karavathi is the capital and the most centrally located island in the archipelago, with a land area of approximately nine acres and a permanent population of 10,119. The reefs and lagoons of Kavarathi are under severe anthropogenic threats, namely increased lagoon fishing, waste release to lagoons and increasing tourism activities. Lakshadweep Marine Research and Conservation Centre (LMRCC) is a local organization committed to conservation and sustainable development of Lakshadweep’s coral reef ecosystems. LMRCC has requested support from Seacology to construct an environmental education center. In exchange, the local community will set aside 500 acres of Kayaratti Lagoon as a marine reserve, where marine species will be protected for a minimum duration of 10 years.

INDIA, Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep archipelago – Construction of a natural and cultural heritage museum and two guard posts in exchange for the establishment of a 2,471-acre marine and mangrove protected area. The Lakshadweep archipelago lies in the Arabian Sea at a distance of 155 to 280 miles from the west coast of India. Minicoy is the southernmost island of the Lakshadweep archipelago, with a total population of approximately 10,000. It is the only island in Lakshadweep that supports mangroves and salt marsh ecosystems. The Centre for Action Research on Environment Science and Society (CARESS) is working in partnership with Minicoyans to revive traditional management systems for protecting the reefs and lagoon. Minicoyan leaders have committed to creating a no-take marine protected area for a minimum of 10 years, encompassing a 2,471-acre marine area and mangrove ecosystem. In exchange, Seacology will build a natural and cultural heritage museum, as well as two guard posts for the marine protected area.

INDONESIA, Pulau Banyak Islands, North Sumatra - Soccer fields for Teluk Nibung Village and Ujung Sialit Village, community meeting hall for Pulau Balai Village, and storm gutters for Suka Makmur Village in exchange for a total of 1,924 acres of protected land and marine habits for a duration of 10 years. Pulau Banyak (“Many Islands”) is a cluster of about 40 islands located 4.5 hours by boat off the western coast of North Sumatra in the special autonomous region of Aceh. The islands support a population of 7,000 people, all of whom live within seven villages on only three of the islands. Four of the seven villages in Pulau Banyak propose the creation of no-take areas in their respective jurisdictions, which will be regulated by Hukum Adat Kampong (village traditional law). In Desa Teluk Nibung Seacology will fund a soccer field in exchange for protection of 1,008 acres of coral reef and 12 acres of forest for a duration of 10 years; in Desa Pulai Balai, Seacology will fund reconstruction of village youth meeting hall in exchange for protection of 217 acres of coral reef and five acres of adjoining land for a duration of 10 years; in Desa Suka Makmur Seacology will fund concrete gutters in exchange for protection of 94 acres of forest, 106 acres of mangrove forest and 114 acres of marine area; and in Desa Ujung Sialit, Seacology will fund a soccer field in exchange for protection of 326 acres of coral and seagrass, and 42 acres of mangrove forest.

PALAU, Ngaremlengui State, Babeldaob Island - Construction of a covered bridge, welcome center and three smaller foot bridges in support of protecting the 2,176-acre Ngarmeskang Nature Reserve in perpetuity. The Ngarmeskang Nature Reserve is located in Ngaremlengui State on the east side of Babeldaob Island. The reserve encompasses the Ngarmeskang River, one of Palau’s largest waterways, which flows into Ngaremeduu Bay, a Biosphere Reserve since 2006. The Ngarmeskang River and Ngaremeduu Bay are among the areas of highest endemism and biodiversity in Palau. Fifteen of Palau’s 16 restricted range or endemic birds are resident at the Ngarmeskang Nature Reserve. The forest along the Ngarmesang River is also important habitat for the two native bats (Marianas fruit bat and the sheath-tail bat), which are Palau’s only native terrestrial mammals. The state would like to improve the trail to the waterfall on the Ngarmeskang River as part of the larger plan to develop ecotourism in the area, which could bring much-needed revenue to the state and local community. In exchange for the conservation of the Ngarmeskang Nature Reserve in perpetuity, the people of Ngaremlengui State have requested funding for a combined covered bridge and welcome center and three small foot bridges to reduce environmental impact, increase eco-tourism income and improve the trail through the reserve.

SAMOA, Falealupo Village, Savaii – Construction of aluminum tower for the Falealupo Rainforest Canopy Walkway. The aerial rainforest canopy walkway at Falealupo Village, on the island of Savaii, in Samoa has been one of Seacology’s most prominent ecotourism projects. The rainforest walkway has been listed in nearly every guidebook on Samoa, and has been visited by thousands of tourists. All revenues from the walkway are returned to the village. The walkway currently consists of a wooden tour that rises about 10 meters, a stainless steel swinging span of about 50 meters, which connects to a large banyan tree, and then a series of stairways and observations platforms within the banyan which extend to a height of about 75 meters above the forest. However, the walkway was closed in February 2008 when rot was found in the wooden tower. Seacology will fund the replacement of the wooden tower with a specially designed aluminum tower which is stronger, and which should last for 30 to 40 years. *

SEYCHELLES, Cousin Island – Signage and composting toilets for the Cousin Island Special Reserve. The Seychelles archipelago is composed of 50 coralline and 40 granitic islands in the Indian Ocean, and has a population of 80,000. Cousin Island is a granitic island covering 67 acres. It became the world’s first internationally-owned reserve when it was purchased in 1968 by the International Council for the Protection of Birds (now Birdlife International). The objective was to save the last of the Seychelles warblers. The island, formerly a coconut plantation, was afforded further protection in 1974, when it was designated a Special Reserve. It is significant not only for sea birds and endemic land birds, but also as the most important breeding site for Hawksbill turtles in the Western Indian Ocean. Today, Cousin Island is managed by Nature Seychelles. The island attracts some 10,000 visitors per year, as well as catering to local educational groups and residents. To mitigate the effect of staff and visitors to the island, Nature Seychelles is undertaking a project to implement integrated, environmentally-friendly utilities such as clean energy, rainwater harvesting and sewage treatment. Seacology will fund one aspect of this project, eight composting toilets, in addition to funding signage to enhance the experience of visitors to the island.

SEYCHELLES, Mahe Island – Refurbishment of the Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles visitors center at Roche Caiman in support of a 7.5-acre reclaimed wetland. The Seychelle Archipelago is composed of 50 coralline and 40 granitic islands in the Indian Ocean, and has a population of 80,000. The Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles (WCS), a NGO for young people, was formed in 1994 to promote conservation action through environmental education. 8,445 children in 40 clubs in most schools around the Seychelles are members of WCS. WCS works to implement educational programs and experience-based learning to create a sustainable future, with an emphasis on “hilltop to ocean” ecosystem management. The Centre for Environment and Education attracts a steady stream of visitors per year with approximately 50 school groups as well as other community groups. Adjacent to the garden, Nature Seychelles and WCS have collaboratively designed a 7.5-acre wetland area, the Sanctuary at Roche Caiman. Species protected at the wetland include fresh water turtles, the endemic killifish, mud and water crabs, skinks and lizards, 11 of the Seychelles’ 18 dragonfly species, and many migratory bird species. To better accommodate the growing number of visitors to the Centre, Seacology will fund improvements to the Centre including a redesign of the exhibition hall, displays regarding different ecosystems, a library corner, art section, audio-visual equipment and more in support of the 7.5-acre reclaimed wetland. *

*Support for asterisked projects is provided fully or in part by the
Nu Skin Enterprises Force for Good Foundation

9:50 PM 
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Thursday, December 11, 2008 

By Duane Silverstein on December 11, 2008 2:21 PM |

0811eg043.jpgBecause it is close to Europe the Red Sea attracts more dive boats than any other region of the world. The Red Sea's frequent encounters with thresher and hammerhead sharks and the beauty of its hard and soft corals help account for its popularity. However, if not managed well, too many divers and dive boats could ironically help destroy this beautiful dive destination. Every time a boat drops an anchor on a coral reef a large section of the reef is damaged. Multiply this by the large number of boats in the Red Sea every day and the potential for significant damage is great. However, by tying up to mooring buoys, boats no longer have to drop anchor. 0811eg102.jpg

To help preserve this beautiful marine environment a local ngo called HEPCA has installed the world's largest mooring buoy system. Nonetheless more mooring buoys were needed around five islands in the 494,100 acre marine reserve adjacent to Wadi El Gemal (Land of the Camel) National Park off the Egyptian coast of the Red Sea. Seacology, an international ngo with the sole purpose of preserving the environments of islands throughout the globe, provided the funding needed to help HEPCA install 25 mooring buoys in the Wadi El Gemal area.
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A group of Seacology board members and donors recently chartered the Royal Evolution, perhaps the nicest liveaboard in the entire Red Sea. We were met on board by Amr Ali, the executive director of HEPCA. Ali is a very savvy ngo operator who will do whatever it takes to protect the reefs. After a fascinating presentation Amr tells me and several Seacology board members it is time to put our dive gear on and actually install the last remaining mooring buoy surrounding Wadi El Gemal Island. We gear up and descend down to 40 feet. The HEPCA team is waiting for us with a large underwater pneumatic drill. After a quick bit of instruction I am the first to begin drilling the mooring buoy attaching device deep into the surface of the sea bed. Board members Larry Barels (above left) and Doug Herst (right) and Seacology donors Jeff Yonover and Paul Bartlett then follow suit. Our bodies and the very water are shaking with the vibration but we ascend to the surface with a feeling of accomplishment. 0811eg030.jpg

Diving in the Red Sea was quite good though a bit uneven. Some dives such as the world famous Brother Islands sites delivered big time with an incredible thresher shark encounter. Other sites such as Daedalus Reef disappointed. On the whole the diving was very good and well worth the trip. If one is thinking of going I highly recommend the Royal Evolution. The boat and crew were fantastic. (All photos credited to Jeff Yonover.)
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10:13 PM 
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