You’ve probably been hearing from a lot of organizations and businesses—so we’ll make this brief. We just want to assure you that Seacology is doing as much as we safely can to further our mission in these challenging times.

Protecting our staff and community. We have canceled all travel for U.S. staff and are working from home.

Supporting island partners. We are continuing to fund projects that are already underway around the world.

Moving forward. Our two dozen field representatives, who develop projects with communities around the world, are still looking for new island conservation opportunities. They have had to curtail travel and meetings, so the process may take a little longer, but it won’t stop.

Big plans! Seacology will soon launch a five-year, $2 million initiative to protect mangrove ecosystems in the Dominican Republic. The heart of this program is support for ecotourism initiatives, so local people can earn a sustainable income by leading mangrove tours. The pandemic has caused the country’s many big resorts to close, damaging the economy. Small-scale ecotourism will offer an alternative to the shuttered mega-hotels, protect the crucial mangrove forests, and provide a vital source of sustainable income.

Other challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic is not the only natural disaster we’re responding to. Just a few months ago, unprecedented bushfires in Australia burned much of Kangaroo Island. Much has been written about the many koalas that were tragically killed or orphaned by the inferno, but little attention has been given to an endemic species of bee that is now on the edge of extinction. Seacology is working with an Australian group on a plan to save that species.

Recognition. Despite these challenges, the impact of our work continues to be recognized, with recent social media posts about our projects by the US ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Uruguayan Embassy!

In sum, just as the challenges facing island people and species are not about to diminish, neither will Seacology’s efforts to combat these threats.