Twelve new Seacology projects will help island communities around the world safeguard thousands of acres of coastline, mangroves, tropical rainforest, and other ecosystems. They will protect endangered wildlife, including sea turtles, lemurs, and otters. And they will improve the living standards of people living in island villages by providing potable water, renewable energy, educational resources, and opportunities to earn sustainable income.

These new conservation partnerships bring our total number of projects to 403, a global reach that was unimaginable when Seacology was founded with a single project in Samoa more than three decades ago.

“When I started work here, Seacology had only a handful of projects,” says Executive Director Duane Silverstein, reflecting on Seacology’s growth. “It is very hard to believe we now have over 400 projects in 68 nations. This would not have been possible without our generous donors.”

Explore each of our new projects:

Montecristo Island, El Salvador

Amazingly, four different kinds of endangered sea turtles nest here. This project will protect these animals by renovating turtle hatching facilities and by raising awareness among both children and adults with lots of public events, including a turtle festival.

Walung Community, Federated States of Micronesia

This community on Kosrae Island has created two marine protected areas. One prohibits harvesting finfish, mangrove trees, or mangrove crabs, and the second is set aside to protect giant clams. The community will use a Seacology grant to renovate its youth center.

Exposición, Inglesera, and Pacar Islands, Honduras

Communities on these small islands in the Gulf of Fonseca have declared 124 acres of coastline as no-take zones for 20 years. They will use a Seacology grant for solar panels, lobster sheds, and environmental education.

Chorão Island, India

People here are protecting mangrove ecosystems around three fishing pools, approximately one hectare each. It’s the habitat of many kinds of wildlife, including endangered otters. The community will build an interpretive center, roofed observation platform, and wildlife murals, and provide education for landowners and fishers.

Elang Cot Girek Village, Sumatra, Indonesia

This community is protecting 618 acres of forest that teems with rare wildlife, including tigers, pangolins, and elephants. They are using a Seacology grant to support their coffee-growing enterprise and ecotourism.

Ecovision Village, Madagascar

People here are planting trees to create a forest corridor that will connect two important forest reserves, which are home to endangered lemurs and other unique Madagascar wildlife. A Seacology grant will pay for tree seedlings, labor, and construction of a new primary school.

Gana Village, Malaysia

This village is protecting 124 acres of incredibly biodiverse rainforest on the island of Borneo, home to many endangered species, including clouded leopards and sun bears. They are using a grant to expand their fledgling organic mushroom farming initiative and to install a gravity water supply system.

Puneng Trusan Village, Malaysia

The mountainous forest around this village is full of endemic plants and animals, many of which are endangered. The community is protecting 1,163 acres of forest from logging, which has destroyed much of Borneo’s forest cover. They will install a micro-hydro power system, giving families clean energy and ending the need for diesel generators.

Guadalupe Island, Mexico

The fishing community here has made most of the island’s coastline a no-take zone, protecting marine life there. They are installing a desalination facility, which will address the island’s chronic shortage of fresh water and make life easier for families who now must drive long distances to get water.

Play for the Mangroves, Philippines

This project builds on the success of our environmental education and sports program in the Dominican Republic. We will work with two communities to raise awareness of mangrove ecosystems and provide gear and instruction so the kids can play sports.

Manuka Village, Tonga

This coastal community has set aside a 272-acre marine area, including a 64-acre no-take zone, for protection. They are creating a small ecotour park, which will offer supervised kayaking and snorkeling while educating visitors about the marine environment.

Sucia Island, Washington, United States

Directors of the Coast Salish Youth Stewardship Corps and our partners at Friday Harbor Laboratories are working together to replant eelgrass, a kind of seagrass that’s long been important to Pacific Northwest ecosystems and native cultures.