New Seacology Projects: From Alaska to Easter Island
At their December meeting, Seacology's board of directors approved the following grants:
FIJI, Nadogo Village - Improve the only access road to Nadogo Village, Fiji in exchange for a protective covenant preserving a 2,000-acre rainforest. Nadogo is a very remote village on the island of Vanua Levu, Fiji. The only practical way for the 60 villagers to leave Nadogo in is via a poorly maintained access road which is prone to flooding. The Nadogo village clan will sign a protective covenant preserving its 2,000-acre rainforest in exchange for Seacology underwriting modest road improvement such as better grading.*
PALAU - Provide demarcation buoys and signage and train local rangers to monitor the Ngemai No-Take Marine Reserve in Palau. Ngemai Reef off Palauís Babeldaob Island was once a rich and abundant source of underwater life, including sea urchin, a delicacy know in Palau as ichubel. A recent underwater survey of the reef found not a single ichubel. In response to alarm over the state of Ngemaiís marine resources the Ngemai Conservation Area was established in June 1997. Modeled after the ancient Palauan custom of Bul, for a minimum of five years no fish or marine organisms may be harvested from the area. Because of inadequate training and equipment needed to monitor the area, there has been significant encroachment by fishermen. This project will help fund the purchase and installation of 16 demarcation buoys, appropriate signage and fund the training of two rangers from the local community to monitor the area.
RAPA NUI (Easter Island) - Restore the Toromiro Tree to Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Though often described as the most remote place on earth, Rapa Nui has suffered an almost complete collapse of its ecosystem due to human intervention. One lost element of Easter Islandís biota is the Toromiro Tree, which survives only in cultivation. It is a valued part of Polynesian culture on Rapa Nui. The Seacology grant will fund the purchase of a propagation house, fencing of a gene bank field area and horticultural training for Easter Islanders.*
USA, St. George Island, Alaska - Purchase materials necessary for the restoration of baidars on St. George Island, Alaska. These flexible, seaworthy vessels were traditionally used by Aleut people for hunting, ferrying supplies and people from larger vessels to the regionís islands, and for extended trips through the frigid, turbulent waters of the Bering Sea region. The last of these boats in the Aleutian region are on the Pribilof Islands. These islands are home in the summer to nearly a million breeding fur seals, and are the most populous seabird nesting sites in the Northern Hemisphere. They are also home to the worldís largest Aleut population. The community of St. George will restore the baidars and use them to transport people and supplies off ships as well as monitor the coastline and wildlife.*
