What we are not doing, makes the difference.

summery:

This short review is about the results of what we achieved so far and what is absorbed and integrated into the local community. On those issues we do not need to give our focus anymore and we can freely concentrate on one of the other many topics that need attention. It is about our works on reef protection, conservation and our interpretation of “ I did it my way”.It all started about eleven years ago by local dive operators, divers and marine biologists. Although we live on an island, we are well aware of the “Quito” , “Rio” and other treaties of good initiatives.

All that seems so far away, and is seldom seen as applicable to ones own doorstep.

We saw the change, and it was going fast and irrevocable. But the direct trigger was a turtle cruelty and killing fish by spear fishing for joy. Those who get wet daily and have the house reefs also as classroom, realized that the misuse needed to stop and that sustainability needed to get integrated as common practice.

Nice words, but what to do? Start actions, easy as that: against misuse and damage, fight for legal framework, educate to who ever it needs and be the example. Certainly we did not wanted to be the green environmentalists for the reefs. Not going in to many details, lets recall a few examples.

1. The local oil refinery had there mishaps and the biggest natural harbor of the Caribbean showed a smeary oil film on wind still days. Imagine where all that is drifting to the flaw tides. It is an ecological disaster. Only after the director of the local institute which was in charge of regulations was replaced, the topic was put on the agenda, oil catchers were installed and oil spills are now accepted as wrong doing and undone.

2. The spear fishing is one reason why big species were disappearing on the south shore lines. When some one used the spear gun in a hold up, it opened the legal battle to get the spear guns on the fire arms regulations. Now, the possession of spear guns is illegal, and fines up to prison apply.

3. Who said that environment protection is a personal attitude? Ok, admitted, I forgot, but the clue does apply to the clean ups. Commonly practiced was that dumping the everyday garbage on public placed, beaches and what ever was considered convenient. Even surveys on tourism satisfaction had this issue on top ranks.
The volunteers of ReefCare started to organize clean ups, on beaches and below water. Local companies sponsored in many ways, A lot of publicity was given and this was done repeatedly. Why do you come and clean up our beach? is it important, why? So here comes the education: practical and to the point. That made the change: the neighborhood started to get involved and took over the script. For them it was the beginning of many small steps for having a nice peoples place. Now, it is their project and they are proud on it. The same was done on other local beach communities, but not all beaches have a near by village. Here, the dive association jumped in: they do it, monthly, each time a different location. The beach bars get a pretty good number of questions about their attitude etc. It works and it does make the difference. Finally, the many white plastic bags do not get into the water and turtles do not mistakenly think to bite in a juicy jelly fish.

4. Many success stories can be recalled: the “Kids for corals program” in whom the poor kids learn how to swim and snorkel no charge, high results. The magazines, the publications, lectures, workshops, and since technology grows, the website (www.reefcare.org) . The monitoring volunteers get their data since many years into the databases of NOAA and the California databases. All this can be labeled as creating networks, frameworks and hence pillars for the future.

5. Coral spawning was monitored, documented and evaluated over a long period by sending in buddy teams the whole evening, the whole night, several weeks in a row. We now have a more profound understanding of it. Reef Care gives annual lectures for local audience and the general public. The dive operators now market their offers for the coral spawning periods. it is adsorbed and carried on by others.

The big international conference and getting many Caribbean stakeholders around the table, marks the 10 years anniversary of Reef Care. Good talks, good cake and champagne, but live goes on and reef live evaluates also. It is good to recall what we achieved, and see that it commonly accepted. This gives also the opportunity to move on. Instead of the initial cry to save the reefs, we now talk of marketing the reef conservation. That sounds friendlier to the public, isn’t it? It is not possible to shout 10 years that the reefs die. The attention, and worse, the message get lost. This year, the world wants positive messages: the reefs live, and need our support to grow up healthy. Marketing is the new clue for the next 10 years.

Recently, we had a lovely meeting with Ron Stevens (www.rogest.com) of how the artist, who paints the marine live, bridges his message to the audience. Visiting his art gallery road show, let’s one experience his answer. It encourages the interpretation on local level. For me, his dragon painting is the perfect symbolization of the Reef Care work: if you do badly to the reef live we spit fire and drag you to court. But dragons can also be friendly as shown in the Chinese New Year. It is the dig brother that helps and protects. Education is the route to learn respect and attitude. After one lesson is understood it is not done anymore and the difference for conserving reef live is made.

Reef Care consists of only volunteers. I am grateful to every one of them, and all the ones to come, after me. I hope we end up having 140.000 of them. That is every one on our island. Our work and its currect status can be monitored on the website. Your donations catalyze our projects and final missions.