Preservação da vida silvestre

Al Harris, founder of Blue Ventures, has had an unhealthy obsession with corals since an early age. In 1998, whilst working as volunteer in the Philippines, he witnessed the largest mortality of tropical marine life in human history – a mass mortality of coral reefs driven by an extreme El Nino event, linked to global climate change. In many parts of the Indian and Pacific oceans almost all corals bleached and then died in the space of a few short weeks, and the effects of this mass reef die-off can still be witnessed today.

Inspired to pursue a career in marine conservation, Al first traveled to Madagascar – the hottest of the hot global biodiversity hotspots - as a biology student in 2001, leading an expedition of scientists from Oxford and Edinburgh universities to monitor the largely unexplored reefs of the Mozambique Channel. Having read accounts of the region’s reefs written by scientists diving in the 1960s and 70s, Al and his colleagues were shocked by the levels of degradation that awaited them, and the extreme poverty trap into which many indigenous Vezo coastal communities were locked, through their economic dependence on over-exploiting dwindling coral reefs for their survival.

After witnessing further coral reef degradation linked to climate change, which had driven further massive Indian Ocean-wide coral bleaching events, Al’s commitment to science became a catalyst for conservation. Having spent long periods living and working with the Vezo, Al realised that the only possible path towards sustainability depended on engaging Vezo communities in conservation; empowering fishermen and women as custodians of their own ocean environment through responsible environmental stewardship. It was also clear that economic incentives were key to breaking the cycle of coastal poverty and resource degradation; ultimately communities needed to see the long term economic benefits of conservation.

This realisation became the key to innovation, and Al established Blue Ventures as a social enterprise to develop business-based solutions to marine biodiversity problems. First and foremost amongst these business models has been Blue Ventures’ geotourism expeditions programme, which has since been replicated in Fiji, Belize and Malaysia.

Ten years on, Dr. Al Harris is still living in Madagascar, never far from the Vezo and the coral reefs of the Mozambique Channel. Today Blue Ventures’ commitment to sustainable marine entrepreneurship is as strong as ever, having diversified to include aquaculture, carbon finance and a diverse range of community development programmes. Blue Ventures continues to inspire numerous other organisations throughout the Indian Ocean to tackle marine conservation issues, and tirelessly champions grassroots community-based conservation as a fundamental cornerstone of sustainable coastal development.

The idea comes from the Working Holiday which is a brand new concept of how to spend your holiday while volunteering your time and effort. In 1980s, it integrated the idea of environmental protection which became popular ever since. In Taiwan, there are many similar activities going on which is referred to as the ECO Working Holiday but there is no such thing in China mainland yet. So we decide to fill that gap. However, it wasn't easy to find a suitable place until we started working with the Crocodile Island. At the beginning, we just set up our nursery base there and organized small activities like mangrove afforestation. With more and more people coming to the island who enjoy the scenery a lot, we began to realize that it might be just what we are looking for as a working holiday site. Since it will benefit the livelihood of local communities, people there are willing to cooperate with us to promote the ECO Working Holiday.

Out of the seven species of sea turtles, four species can be found nesting on the Malaysian beaches/rookeries. Apart from that, the Malaysian waters also provide foraging grounds for the green and hawksbill turtles. Malaysia has long history of sea turtle conservation, started since the early 1950s but sadly the sea turtle nesting population still declining drastically. For example, the nesting population of leatherback turtles in Terengganu are now in a brink of extinction. Because of that, SEATRU - Universiti Malaysia Terengganu embarked on a mission to save the sea turtles in Malaysia, especially those in Redang Island.

This is not just any land. This is land that was deeded to a coalition of over a dozen diverse stakeholder organizations--from the American Indians in Texas, to various Audubon groups, the Native Plant Society of Texas, the San Antonio Conservation Society (historic preservation), Texas A&M University, The Witte Museum, the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and others--after a citizen-rejected plan to build a dam and reservoir on the land resulted from one man--Richard Beene--stepping off his earth-moving tractor machine to discover archeological artifacts dating back many, many millennia. “The bellyscrapers were scraping by and they were sixteen feet beneath the surface and he [Richard Beene] saw all over the ground the remains of these campfires and the remains of these mussel shells,” recalls Texas A&M archeologist Alston Thoms, who was working nearby on the property in 1990 when Beene raised the alarm. “Had he waited fifteen minutes, at the rate those bellyscrapers were going, [the evidence] would have been gone.” As a result of his find, this place would be known to archeologists as “the Richard Beene Site." In early 1990 Texas A&M archeologists recorded the Richard Beene Site, then known only as 41BX831. In all, twenty distinct archeological layers were excavated at the site yielding over forty radiocarbon ages. This makes the Richard Beene Site one of only a handful of sites on the entire U.S. Gulf Coastal Plain to yield a nearly complete record of occupation spanning the last 10,000 years. The Richard Beene Site was among only fifteen sites determined eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places and for official designation as State Archeological Landmarks. Its riches include: Abundant archaeological evidence reflecting 10,000 years of land use representing all major South Texas cultural groups: Native American hunting/gathering, Spanish Colonial occupation, Hispanic ranching, Anglo- and African-American farming, to its once-proposed use as a reservoir; historic importance of location astride an international travel corridor, the Caminos Reales, among the oldest roads in North America, and gateway to the Chisholm Trail cattle drives; ecologically diverse riparian setting; a world class flood deposit record documenting 30,000+ years of climate/hydrology/vegetation/wildlife; the site of "the oldest ranch in Texas," Jose Pêrez and Jose Ignacio Pérez, the last Spanish Governors of Tejas, owned the original European head rights as el Rancho de la Purisma Concepcion. Toyota chose to locate their manufacturing plant directly across the Medina River from Land Heritage Institute in part because of the green space buffer LHI will provide in perpetuity. In fact, a Toyota Logistics team of volunteers uncovered a clearing of Live Oak trees across from the LHI centerpeice, the historic Presnall-Watson House: One of the Live Oaks whose enormous trunk was revealed turns out to be over 1000 years old and likely to be among Texas’ top 25 oldest oaks.

Sea turtle populations in Tanzania have declined over many years due to decades of hunting and exploitation for meat, shells and eggs. A community based nest monitoring and protection programme was implemented in 2001 and achieved significant results. Nest poaching fell from 80% to less than 3% and following intensive education and awareness, many members of the community became engaged in conservation efforts. However, in order to maintain this level of engagement and prevent a return to illegal turtle slaughter and nest poaching, it was quickly apparent that an economic alternative was needed since communities were generating revenue from the sale of turtle meat. The concept of sea turtle ecotourism was developed on the basis that sea turtles always return to the same beach to lay their eggs. In addition, the eggs have an average incubation period of 55 days so it is possible to predict the hatching date and pass this information onto visitors to Tanzania.

Sea turtle ecotourism is part of a much broader objective which aims to conserve and protect endangered marine species and critical coastal habitats whilst contributing to poverty alleviation through the development of alternative livelihoods for coastal people. It is only through providing a sustainable economic alternative that coastal communities will cease to exploit their environment and prevent Tanzania from becoming a ‘place on the edge’.

The tipping point was reached when the Seychelles warbler was on the brink of extinction. Also when soon after it was realized that eco tourism could bring in revenues to save biodiversity

Mangkok is a typical rural community in Terengganu and is sandwiched on a sand spit between the South China Sea and the Setiu River. I visited Mangkok and the nearby villagers in 2007 and the villagers seemed to walk around aimlessly and sat around a lot. However when I returned in 2010 with the help of WWF they had formed a group called PEWANIS and they were different, they had ambition and knew how to get what they wanted. The group has only been going for just under 3 years but the change in the women is phenomenal. They are now running their own mangrove tree replanting and are hosting groups who stay for 3 or 4 days. It is this empowerment and stewardship to their land which I dream to bring to the villagers of Perhentian.

The Southeastern states of the United States offer many fantastic marine areas, inland and coastal. Our relation to the extended continental shelf into the Atlantic Ocean, referred to as the South Atlantic bight, provides an ecosystem found nowhere else in the world. The coastal river-drainage estuaries are unique in their ability to cultivate life, much of which inhabit our offshore waters and reefs. The dynamics of this eco-region have spawned the development of conservation organizations that understand the importance of protecting our marine environment. Our coastline is spotted with federal protected areas (Marine Protected Areas, National Estuarine Research Reserves, and Wildlife Refuges), university and independent ecological researchers (Long-term Ecological Research Networks and marine education programs), informal educators, ecotourism operators, and non-government volunteer and non-profit conservation organizations. Among other factors, human actions on land can have a direct effect on marine and estuarine environments. It can be difficult to translate science into a direct correlation to these human actions, and even more difficult in relating these actions to specific protected marine areas. What can be related is the fact that sustainable industry helps protect all of our marine areas in very direct ways. By aligning these different organizations as a single voice for conservation, we can help propel sustainable business in our region. Developing this concept through collaboration and partnership reflects our unified desire for long-term sustainability and revenue generation through ecotourism. Offering options for voluntourism through promotions of volunteer opportunities and green businesses enable citizens and tourists the opportunity for hands-on support of our conservation efforts while reflecting ecotourism as a force for economic development.

Of all Bahamian island aquifers, Andros represents the largest source of freshwater and wetland habitat. It also supports some of the most pristine forest (pine and coppice) in the northern Caribbean. The main threats to the water regime and related biodiversity include pollution of the aquifer (agriculture, sewage, unsanctioned domestic use, and puncture as a result of development), encroachment, destruction of sensitive habitats, dredging and overfishing.

The incidents of pollution are not heavy or chronic as yet but here is a high potential for such chronic effects from wastewater and development (fuel and oil pollution also) and from sedimentation for construction and dredging. The important groundwater resources of Andros are therefore under threat and need protection through zoning, land-use management and effective policy development and implementation.

Groundwater conservation and protection in Andros is critical to the sustainable management of the island ecosystem and the specific management and long-term conservation of water resources necessary to the welfare of The Bahamas.

El momento decisivo se dio en 1999,cuando éramos objeto de terribles ataques por parte del gobierno y grupos con intereses económicos.
Un día me buscó un señor para ofrecer venderme las tierras de su familia, y por cierto aun precio muy razonable. Yo no tenía el más mínimo interés en comprar tierras, pero justamente en esos días llegó un cheque de la National Geographic. Pensé que era una equivocación, y los llamé para preguntar si romperlo o devolverlo. Me indicaron que el dinero era mío por comprar derechos de una de mis fotos para su libro 100 Best. Nos pareció demasiada coincidencia, y decidimos considerar la oferta ya que logísticamente nos colocaba en el punto de lanza para continuar el trabajo del Mosaico Madidi hacia el norte, y por estar en tierras privadas, fuera del las áreas protegidas, nos daba más garantías legales. Esta era una preocupación porque con los gobiernos de esa época (recuerden que el entonces presidente de Bolivia, Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, acabó escapando del país por una sublevación popular que exigió que se vaya) fuimos duramente reprimidos, casi asesinados, y después del robo, la destrucción, y la quema de todos nuestros bienes y la impresionante infraestructura que habíamos montado en los lugares donde vivíamos, buscábamos garantías.
Fue así que nos animamos a hacernos cargo de un lugar muy depredado para tratar de recuperarlo. Ya contábamos con excelente experiencia en la protección de lugares prístinos como eran antes el Parque Madidi y Pilón Lajas. Recuperar un área era un nuevo reto.

This innovation of encouraging and facilitating the way the world’s cruising yachts can give something back to the communities that they visit was the result of a few factors in the life of Chris Bone. Chris grew up sailing and arrived in New Zealand on a yacht on the day that the Rainbow Warrior was bombed. Always an environmentalist he was moved to work as a skipper for Greenpeace and this led to him sailing around the Pacific on an anti-nuclear promotion tour. This solidified his interest and care for the Pacific Island communities.
Later when he ran a yacht delivery company and worked to promote the town in New Zealand where he lived, to the visiting yachts people, he came to see how many people were sailing around the world and what an untapped resource this was. Often these people were skilled people who had made good money working and were now reaping the rewards. He saw however that they were missing having more responsibility than just maintaining their yacht and sailing. He felt that if he could access some of that resource and energy there would be a way of giving something back to the people in the island communities that so many yachts visited. OceansWatch was founded on this vision and is backed by the support of yacht owners, it tries to facilitate projects that the yachts people can become involved in or benefit from.
Chris’s initial encounter with a community that recognised their diminishing fish resources happened in Papua New Guinea when he was delivering a yacht and his crew jumped ship because they were scared of pirates. Chris was stuck for three weeks and in that time visited a small island community that had many needs and asked him to come back and help them. As a result of this and also of taking an overseas businessman on a yacht charter who had a similar idea and had reserved the website www.oceanswatch.org OceansWatch was born. The Trust was set up when a women sailing solo round the world and other sailing friends also wanted to be involved. The final resources fell into place when the owner of a yacht that Chris was delivering donated him the yacht to use for the organisation’s mission. When Chris sailed back into that community in Papua New Guinea and said “I’ve come back to help” and they were so happy, he knew he was doing the right thing.

In hindsight there were two distinct moments that led to the eventual formation of the Partnership for Ecologically Sustainable Coastal Areas. The first of these moments came in August 2004 when Punta Cana's coastline was surveyed by the Ecological Foundation and the University of Miami Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS), using the method of "Rapid Assessment of the Atlantic and Gulf Reef” (AGGRA by its acronym in English). The results of this survey only identified 10% coral cover and low biomass of fish, thus representing the lowest numbers in the Caribbean. In response to this surprisingly degraded ecological state the Ecological Foundation spearheaded an effort to form a coalition uniting the efforts of local communities, private companies, governmental actors, and nongovernmental institutions both local and international. The Partnership for Ecologically Sustainable Coastal Areas, or PESCA as the group came to be known, dedicated themselves to creating workable solutions to combat the many threats facing the coastal and marine zones of Punta Cana.

The second defining moment came three years later in August 2007 when Punta Cana's coastline was surveyed again for the second time, using the same protocol. This time we found that the percentage of live coral cover had decreased drastically with the loss of more than 50% of live coral cover between 2004 and 2007 (only 4.4% of the reef now consisted of live coral cover). Likewise, there was a decrease in biomass and diversity of reef fishes.

These two distinct findings highlighted a crisis that continues to threaten the integrity of the coastal and marine resources of Punta Cana and the very future of tourism in the country’s area of greatest economic importance. After careful analysis of the unabated trend of ecological degradation PESCA determined that the leading cause was an increase in local fishing pressure to meet an ever rising demand created by a booming tourism industry. These findings clearly demonstrated that drastic action was needed and whatever the final solution maybe, it needed to include the local fishermen. Ultimately the Punta Cana Ecological Foundation came to the conclusion that a sweeping coastal management system needs to be installed and PESCA is the best positioned to effectively implement such a massive restructuring.