Reef Relief participates in international forums, and provides information and training to grassroots organizations and governments involved in protecting coral reefs worldwide. We help communities prevent anchor damage through the creation of reef mooring buoy programs and coral monitoring surveys, and help establish educational programs that encourage sustainable living near coral reefs.
"Nothing is isolated in this world. Everything is linked. Problems facing our coral reef, affect other coral reefs. Everything is part of the same puzzle. Not to recognize this is to limit true knowledge".
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The Island Roots Festival Welcoming Reception at the Captain Roland Roberts House was a fun event, with costumed royalty, David Bethel and Docent Rick Richard hosting the refreshments, Sir Peter Anderson-- Secretary-Treasurer of Reef Relief--welcoming everyone, and general revelry!
You're cordially invited to the Info: telephone 242-365-4014 or drop by the Capt. Roland Roberts House, Parliament Street, New Plymouth, Green Turtle www.reefrelief.org
Docent Joanie Freeman hosts a class for students from Nassau. COME ONE! COME ALL! YOU ARE INVITED TO THE DEDICATION OF THE RICHARD (BLUE) JONES BUSH MEDICINE GARDEN FRIDAY MARCH 28TH TIME: 5:30 TO 6:00 PM Preserving Bahamian History
Green Turtle Cay Clean-Up by Kelsi Farrington The Gospel Chapel led by Mr. Randy Curry cleaned the main road of the island very successfully as not one piece of garbage can be seen even now. Long Bay Beach and community basketball court was cleaned by the GTC Community Fellowship Church led by Mr. Jr. Roberts and his group whom were also very enthusiastic to clean the area. The island off of Green Turtle Cay, named Munjack is a popular place to go picnicking for all Green Turtle Cay inhabitants. Brendal's Dive Center takes tourists on trips to Munjack and has done a lot to keeping it as clean as possible. The owners Brendal and Mary Stevens took garbage cans there and put up signs around the island which clearly say: "Whatever you bring here, take back with you" quite some time ago. They also cleaned up Munjack on the 15th of March and we wish to thank them so much for constantly maintaining Munjack, a small gem of Abaco few know of but many enjoy. Reef Relief who organized the island cleanup day is encouraging Green Turtle Cay to "keep it up" and for the local adults to "pass the torch to their children and other kids of the island to make our island even more beautiful." Toursists often comment that Green Turtle Cay is a paradise and is always so clean so Project Tourism has introduced Reef Relief's new motto for Green Turtle Cay: "Keep Paradise Clean" which is a good phrase to abide by. As a graduating student I truly hope that the other local teens and kids will continue to give a helping hand to the environment and realize that it is necessity to keep your island clean. It is our home and we must keep it spotless for our own enjoyment as much as for tourists. This day of cleaning made me feel proud of Green Turtle Cay as we turned it a day but full of fun and a coming together as a community. It was a day joined by all who took part and for some was a family affair, a Saturday when the community came together for such a good cause is beautiful in itself. As for the results, we can say are truly astonishing since we managed to gather so many bags of trash on such a small island and I have never seen it as clean as it is today. Congratulations to everyone who helped on the island cleanup day whether big or small you made the day more enjoyable. |
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While in Green Turtle Cay the summer of 2007, Reef Relief Docent Kelly Goodale organized a tee-shirt painting project. Local children painted marine life themes on their tees. See the results below.
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On the way to the clean-up
St. Kitts Ecosystem Survey Week April 2007:
Executive Summary
Reef Relief Report
To see images from the Reef Relief survey, click here.
Reef Report
The Cuba Project:
Since 1998, Reef Relief has worked with Cuban scientists to survey the health of the Cuban coral reefs. While the Cuban embargo has impeded practical solutions like buoys, Reef Relief‚s support of environmental education and surveys of coral reefs in collaboration with Cuban scientists helps Cuban conservation efforts.
Guanaja, Bay Islands, Honduras Project:
Reef Relief in cooperation with the Guanaja Tourism association, installed 36 reef mooring buoys to protect the fragile coral reefs surrounding the island of Guanaja, a popular dive destination off the coast of Honduras. They survived recent hurricane activity and are available for use to eliminate anchor damage by boats. Educational charts educate divers to the reefs.
Jamaica Coral Reef Protection Program:
In November of 1991, Reef Relief worked with the Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society (NCRPS) to install 35 reef mooring buoys at the reefs of Negril, Jamaica. In subsequent years, Reef Relief returned to train local preservationists to patrol their reefs with the Reef Ranger Program, maintain the buoys, install a swimmer‚s lane, launch a Junior Ranger school program, and create the Negril Marine Park, managed by NCRPS.
Reef Relief's Efforts To Help Establish Grassroots Coral Reef Organizations World-Wide
Grassroots organizations are an effective means to protect local environments, to educate, and to monitor programs established by governments and big business. They are a way to voice local concerns, so that different ways of life, traditional knowledge, and resources do not get lost.
In this spirit, information sharing with community efforts from all over the world who desire to protect their coral reefs, are underway.
Photo Monitoring Coral Reefs and Information Sharing
Thanks to the photo monitoring system developed by REEF RELIEF'S founder and director of marine projects, Craig Quirolo, islands and countries with limited budgets now have access to a system they can afford that will enable them to monitor their reefs. The knowledge gained from this system is invaluable. From data provided, the overall health of a reef can be diagnosed. Trends can be projected, priorities can be set, and critical areas can be targeted for protection. Just as important, information sharing with other areas can be facilitated. This monitoring system is being offered to other areas in the Caribbean and Pacific.