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STATUS REPORT FOR OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER 2007
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UNDP-GEF-SGP
Evaluation Meeting:
In early November,
the United Nations Development Program - Global Environmental
Fund (UNDP-GEF), met with the BMT to evaluate from the
Conservation and Restoration of the Marine Environment along the
South Coast of Barbados Project. The EES is a sub-project of
this wider Project and is expected to be implemented in other
beaches of the island in the future.
New Project
Proposals:
The BMT is working
on the plans for a project to be implemented at a Bay at the
South Coast which will include the expansion of the
Environmental Education Stewards (EES) Programme. Also included
will be the re-generation and rehabilitation of the coral reef
ecosystems by placing Reef Balls Gardens at the area. Working
with fishermen and stakeholders of the area will also be
included in the activities of this project.
Another main
component of this project will be the implementation of the
Accreditation Scheme for marine safety and protection of the
marine environment, which includes: Advanced marine operator
safety, craft handling, preservation, maintenance and management
of the marine environment. The accreditation scheme is known as
the WiSe Scheme and targets the marine recreational service
providers, craft owners and operators as well as divers and
others. For more details, see over.
Donations:
The Barbados
Marine Trust wants to thank Dr. Franco Montalto PhD. for his
generous donation of two data level loggers. Dr. Montalto is a
hydrologist and assistant professor from Drexel University in
Philadelphia, USA. He is also founder of EDesign Dynamics, in
New York specializing in environmental engineering projects,
such as estuaries and watersheds ecosystems restoration. Dr.
Montalto is interested in collaborating with the Trust in the
drainage monitoring. Dr. Montalto also wishes to collaborate
with the BMT on studying urban impacts on water resources and
how they impact the marine environment. i.e. the coral reef of
Barbados. The equipment that has been donated by Dr. Montalto
will be installed at the most suitable locations within
specially targeted areas of Barbados’ watersheds by the Drainage
Unit.
The USA Embassy
has kindly made a donation for "environmental tutorials" to Camp
Aquarius which will be conducted by the Barbados Marine Trust
for Camp Aquarius children. The American Embassy also made a
sizeable donation for equipment for Camp Aquarius which runs a
Christmas Camp, Easter Camp and Summer Camp for children aged 4
to 18. The Camp teaches children water activities in the context
of protecting and preserving the marine environment
Aknowledgements to
SHELL:
The work of the
Carlisle Bay Pilot Project is continuing due to the kind
donation made by Shell Western Supply and Trading. This work
includes the monitoring and quality assessment of the drains and
drain functionality along Carlisle Bay; as well as the beach and
water patrols conducted by the Stewards of the Environmental
Education Stewardship Programme.
Turtle
activity:
During one of our
patrols, we at the EES found an already hatched turtle nest. The
finding was immediately reported to the Barbados Sea Turtle
Project, who responds to calls when turtle activity is found at
the beach. If you see any hatchling, turtle or turtle tracks,
please to the Barbados Sea Turtle Project Hotline number:
230-0142.
Signs Carlisle
Bay:
TDC is providing
funds for signs on Carlisle Bay which will inform visitors,
(both tourists and locals) about marine life in the Bay and why
it is important to protect our marine environment. We hope to
have these signs installed before Christmas for the start of the
tourist season.
Magazine:
BMT will have four
pages in the new children’s marine booklet prepared by Jason
Cole of Ocean Park. BAIRDS of Ottawa, Canada is sponsoring the
BMT’s marine environmental section.
Wildlife Safe (WiSe):
Members of the
Barbados Marine Trust met with Dr. Lissa Goodwin of the WiSe (Wildlife
Safe) Training and Accreditation Scheme based in the UK
(otherwise called the WiSe Scheme or WiSeUK).
The scheme aims to train and accredit mainly pleasure-craft
operators - whose focus is on marine wildlife viewing - in
marine safety and how to view marine wildlife as effectively as
possible while minimising disturbance to the animals.
The Barbados Marine Trust is developing the
curriculum and implementing the WiSe Scheme here in Barbados
while widening the scope from only marine wildlife viewing
operations to include other types of marine recreational
activities.
Dr. Goodwin gave the members some insight and ideas on
developing and implementing the WiSe Scheme. In the meeting, it
was discussed how best to execute the programme, which will be
delivered as a training program of 24 hours divided into
segments. Elements of the discussion included:
- the course content (local and international marine
regulations, information on the local marine environment,
species recognition)
- tailoring the programme to suit the Barbadian (and Caribbean)
marine environment (in the UK, the scheme focuses on basking
sharks, seals, and other animals; whereas in Barbados, the focus
will be on sea turtles, fish, coral reefs etc.)
- involving the various types of marine operators (there are
many: jet ski operators, dive operators, fishermen, catamaran
and yacht operators)
- involving related government and non-government agencies (CZMU,
Fisheries Division, Barbados Sea Turtle Project, amongst others)
- funding the programme and marketing the WiSe Accredited
operators to the tourism sector
- monitoring and evaluating the Programme
By implementing this voluntary programme, the Trust hopes to
make local marine operators aware of the importance and the
fragility of the marine environment - and to get them to see
that in carrying out their various activities, they need to act
with environmental sustainability and preservation in mind.
It is also hoped this having WiSe Accredited Operators would add
another dimension to the increasing numbers of
environmentally-aware tourists.
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