January 2021
As powerful Cyclone Yasa barreled toward Fiji just before Christmas, we waited nervously for news. Seacology has 27 projects in Fiji, and many were directly in the storm’s path. As news reports began to trickle in, we were relieved to learn that although some of our partner communities were hard-hit, the people there were safe. […]
January 2021
When the COVID-19 pandemic made indoor gatherings unsafe, getting outdoors became more important than ever. With the appropriate precautions, hiking, kayaking, birding, and other exploration of the natural world offer a COVID-friendly escape from the mind-numbing isolation of shelter-in-place orders, travel restrictions, and rules against large group activities. For many islanders, they also provide an […]
December 2020
How do you get electricity to remote villages in the mountains of Borneo, miles from paved roads and even farther from power plants? The problem has stumped governments for years–leaving villagers to rely on loud, dirty, and expensive diesel generators for electricity. Seacology’s first project in Malaysian Borneo successfully tackled this problem in the village […]
December 2020
Eelgrass might be the most important habitat you’ve never heard of. And it’s disappearing at a frightening rate — but experienced biologists, conservation professionals, and eager students are teaming up to bring back this crucial, endangered marine habitat in the Pacific Northwest. The San Juan Islands, the secluded archipelago of hundreds of small islands near […]
November 2020
It’s the season of giving–and I want to start by giving thanks for the things I am grateful for at Seacology. First and foremost, I want to thank you for your support and encouragement. Seacology could not be successful in its mission of protecting island environments and cultures without the generous gifts of many donors. […]
November 2020
Parrotfish, brightly colored inhabitants of coral reefs named for their beaklike mouths, are essential for a healthy reef. The fish use their namesake beaks to scrape vegetation from the coral, removing algae that would otherwise smother and kill coral polyps. Unfortunately, the slow-moving fish are an easy target for spearfishers.They have been in decline in […]
October 2020
Could orangutans become extinct in the next 10 years? According to scientists, it’s possible, unless protections are put in place and strictly enforced. Seacology is working hard with indigenous communities to avert that potential tragedy. Plummeting populations Orangutans—the big, gentle, rust-colored apes that spend their lives high in rainforest trees—are both mysterious and familiar to […]
October 2020
Omar Abdallah Juma, who brought communities, governments, and fishermen together to protect Kenya’s great marine biodiversity, has been awarded the 2020 Seacology Prize. East Africa’s coast and islands are home to thriving coral reefs, dense mangrove forests, and seagrass beds–all of which have been strained by rapid population growth, overfishing, and poor regulation. Kenyan communities […]
September 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a mixed bag for islands. While their geographical isolation has helped many island nations keep infection rates low, travel restrictions and other economic consequences of the pandemic have devastated the economies of island communities that depend on international tourism. Under these circumstances, Seacology’s support for local ecotourism projects has taken […]
September 2020
Botanists identified a new species of palm tree on the Caribbean island of Bonaire last year – but without urgent action, it could be extinct within just a few years. Seacology is aiming to prevent that. Any species – plant or animal – that evolves on an isolated island is especially vulnerable to extinction. If […]