SEACOLOGY E-NEWS UPDATE

Project Updates

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

Part of the Lakshadweep archipelago, Minicoy Island lies southwest of India in the Arabian Sea. With a total population of 10,000, it is the only island in Lakshadweep that supports mangroves and salt marsh ecosystems. Minicoyan and Indian environmental groups have been working to protect the local reefs and lagoon. The local leaders have committed to creating a no-take marine protected area (MPA) for a minimum of 10 years, encompassing a 2,471-acre marine area and mangrove ecosystem. In exchange, they have requested Seacology’s support in building a natural and cultural heritage museum, which is expected to contribute to Minicoy’s nascent tourism industry, as well as two guard posts for the MPA.

Land for the museum has been purchased (left) and preparations for its construction are underway. In the MPA, local fishermen have agreed to monitor fishing events as well as activities in various parts of the reef. Educational posters explaining the protected area have been printed and are being installed around the island in order to create awareness about the conservation efforts. The Maliku Mas Veringhe Jamath, or Fishermen’s Association, is also engaging with the local government to seek further restrictions on certain types of fishing.

Full Project Description

KENYA, Kiweni, Pate Island, 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

Extending from the Kenya/Somalia border to the Tana Delta, the Lamu archipelago covers an area of approximately 2,340 square miles and contains immense biodiversity along with coral reefs, sand dunes, lagoons, estuaries, and 75% of Kenya’s mangrove forests. A local community organization, the Lamu Marine Conservation Trust (LamCOT), seeks to promote locally based natural resource management while raising awareness for the protection, conservation, and management of the area’s environment and wildlife. Seacology will be helping LamCOT fund an expanded program of patrolling and monitoring of green sea turtle nesting sites on Lamu and Manda islands, as well as education and awareness in four local schools on Lamu Island. In exchange, LamCOT will establish a 741-acre community managed marine protected area (MPA) encompassing ecologically fragile coral reefs, along with fish feeding, breeding, and spawning sites.

A primary aspect of LamCOT’s project on Lamu Island is education and awareness. Recently, they have begun visiting local villages to discuss the process of creating the MPA, as well as the changes that this project will bring. Visiting the village of Pate, on Pate Island (pictured left), as well as the nearby village of Shanga, LamCOT representatives met for several hours with the locals, many of whom use the MPA for subsistence fishing. The representatives shared the Seacology community covenant in both English and Swahili and explained the various aspects of the project and implications of the MPA’s creation. Villagers in Shanga, who often rely on the destructive beach seine in their fishing practices, expressed their willingness to work with LamCOT to ensure sustainable management of the MPA.

Full Project Description

Support Seacology's Samoa Tsunami Emergency Fund

Last week’s earthquake and tsunami in the Samoan Islands left the region devastated and at least 176 people dead. Several districts around the archipelago have been destroyed, and thousands of people have been displaced from their homes. Seacology has supported several villages in the Samoan Islands and continues to await word on how our projects and the villagers fared in the disasters. To assist with recovery in local villages, Seacology has created the Samoa Tsunami Emergency Fund. 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!

Report from the Seacology Prize Ceremony

On Thursday, October 8, 2009, Seacology held its Seacology Prize Ceremony at the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco. Awarded annually, the Seacology Prize recognizes heroic achievement by an indigenous leader who has risked his or her own life and wellbeing to protect an island’s ecosystems and culture. Unlike other leadership awards, the Seacology Prize celebrates lesser known individuals who seldom receive the international accolades they deserve.

This year, Seacology was proud to recognize Filip Damen of Wanang, Papua New Guinea for his outstanding dedication to protecting the fragile rainforests of his native village. (Pictured left, President Ken Murdock, Prize Recipient Filip Damen, and Chairman Paul Cox.) Born and raised in Wanang, Mr. Damen has spent his entire life in the lowland rainforests of Papua New Guinea—the third largest tract of primary tropic forest left on earth. His trip to San Francisco to accept the Seacology Prize was, in fact, his first trip outside his home country. Witnessing the rapid devastation of the forests at the hands of commercial loggers inspired Mr. Damen to take action. After teaching himself to read and write, he led a group of local clans to sign a historic conservation deed that would prevent loggers from exploiting approximately 25,000 acres of their forests. Realizing that the cessation of logging would mean a loss of potential income, Mr. Damen spearheaded the creation of a research center in Wanang that provides jobs and a school, while at promoting long-term forest research and conservation.

In gratitude for his commitment to island conservation, Mr. Damen was presented with a $10,000 check at a reception in San Francisco. The Seacology Prize is underwritten by Ken Murdock, President of Seacology (pictured right, presenting Filip Damen with the Prize and check), in honor of his mother, Lalovi Fish Murdock.

Seacology Welcomes Our New Development Assistant

We are pleased to announce the addition of Carynne McIver to the Seacology staff. Carynne McIver joined Seacology as our Development Assistant in September after relocating to the Bay Area. Having worked at Oceana in Washington, DC, she is excited to find another organization with a focus on marine conservation. A lifetime environmentalist and outdoor enthusiast, Carynne studied English and Art History at Williams College in Massachusetts. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, rock climbing and cooking. She has experience in legal assistance and office administration, as well as in grant writing and other fundraising projects. At Seacology, she helps draft and track funding requests, assists with development events, and helps author and edit the e-newsletter.

Apply for Seacology's Credit Card and Support Us With Every Purchase

Seacology is excited to announce a new way to support our island conservation work! By using the new Seacology Visa Platinum credit card, you can help us every time you go to the store. 1% of every purchase made on your Seacology card is automatically donated to our work. On top of that, Capital One will donate an additional $25 after you make your first purchase. To learn more and start the application process, visit Seacology's Donation Page.

Spotlight on Seacology's Fellows

The Seacology Fellows Program was created to honor committed donors who contribute $2,000 or more per year. Along with our board members, contributions from fellows fund the ongoing operations of Seacology. The program provides key support to Seacology and allows us to continue to expand our vital conservation programs. We are pleased to spotlight the following fellows.

Pete and Ginny Boyce – Since learning of Seacology in an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, Pete and Ginny Boyce have become two of our most avid supporters. Seacology Fellows since 2003, Pete and Ginny have always loved the outdoors, from the Rockies and Sierras to tropical islands and everything in between. Their sailing, boating, and snorkeling adventures in the Pacific gave them an appreciation for islands and marine life. The Boyces witnessed Seacology projects first-hand when they joined board members, staff, and other donors on expeditions to Vietnam, Fiji, Borneo, and Madagascar. When not traveling, they are kept busy with farm and ranch land near Manteca, California, along with investments in Hawaii and Texas. Their two children, based in Hawaii and Minnesota, enjoy nature and wildlife as much as they do.

Upcoming Seacology Travel

INDIA ~ January 30 – February 13, 2010

***There are ONLY 2 ROOMS remaining for the India trip! Book now to reserve your spot!***

From the Remote Islands of the Arabian Sea to Elephant Back Safaris and the Taj Mahal – A Custom Journey with Special Access to Seacology Project Sites in the Lakdshadweep Islands

This unique journey, specially designed with Seacology, intertwines trips to the rarely visited tropical islands of the Lakshadweep archipelago, game viewing at India’s finest wildlife park, and a trip by train to India’s most iconic monument – the Taj Mahal. The expedition begins with a stay at the private, beachside home of Seacology supporters TJ and Sally Mathew in Southern Kerala. The next day, we will set off to the region of Kerala, an unbelievably beautiful paradise of mangrove forests, emerald green paddy fields and coconut groves, interspersed with a 900-kilometer network of meandering waterways. We then venture out to the remote Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea, which Condé Nast Traveler called “as close as it gets to paradise,” We spend five nights in these idyllic tropical islands, where we have special permission to visit Seacology project sites on islands generally off-limits to the public. After a good look at Delhi, we journey by train to the legendary Taj Mahal, a World Heritage Site. Before returning home, we round out our trip at the incomparable Mahua Kothi Lodge and Bandhavgarh National Park, where daytime tiger sightings are more common than at any other game preserve on the subcontinent.

This trip is being run for Seacology by Geographic Expeditions, one of the world’s most highly respected adventure travel agencies. If you are interested in participating in this trip, please see the full brochure.

Seacology Around the Web

Seacology's Island Environment Blog