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Reef Check Teams in Action Methods Check – Updates to Training Manual Other Reef Check News |
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RODRIGUES (Mauritius) ST LUCIA
PAPUA NEW GUINEA |
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RC Vietnam has been in operation since 1998 and is led by Dr. Vo Si Tuan of the Institute of Oceanography of Nha Trang. On August 25-29, RC hosted a training in Haiphong, dedicated to expanding RC throughout the northern provinces. Participants included young agency staff from the relevant government departments. Despite the arrival of a typhoon on the first day of the Workshop, the training was extremely successful. Trainees were challenged by no electricity and no ferry transport but managed to make the best of things. The Workshop was facilitated by Tran Dinh Lan of Haiphong Institute of Oceanography and the training was led by RC's Executive Director Gregor Hodgson and Dr. Vo Si Tuan. Participants spent a good deal of time conducting land-based training as the water was completely red from all the runoff.
Most importantly, Dr. Dam Duc Tien of HIO, agreed to serve as the Vietnam Northern Area Coordinator and pledged to work with Dr. Vo Si Tuan to establish the first National Coral Reef Monitoring Network. HIO, IUCN and the consultants have agreed to carry out a second training workshop early in 2004 to analyze the data and interpret the results. For more information contact Vi So Tuan. |
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DEMA Show, Miami Mactan island workshop- CEBU, PHILIPPINES SE Asia Training Dive Expo, Australia Western Indian ocean Training CUBA TRAINING CARIBBEAN REGIONAL TRAININGS BELIZE TRAINING THAILAND TRAINING MYANMAR EXPEDITION |
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This month we are highlighting Kimberly McCarty and Candice Ludkiewicz, two RC supporters who show that one person really can make a difference. If you know a Reef Check Champion that you would like to nominate, please email a brief description of their contribution as well as a photo (if possible) to Kelly. Every month, Reef Check receives hundreds of email from people all over the world inquiring about how they can help save coral reefs. Here are two inspirational stories that show how sometimes the smallest gesture can become the greatest contribution. Wedding Bliss Lemonade Anyone? Dear Reef Check, Kimberly's example of making a difference has touched many hearts as the story has been shared by RC staff. May Kimberly's efforts to help save coral reefs be an example to everyone that every effort counts. |
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Updated TRAINING MANUAL |
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NEW STAFF AT RC HEADQUARTERS Bill Kiene – Director for Conservation Science Ashley Spencer – Operations Coordinator CCDS in Bimini RC Data Reveals Recovery from Bleaching in the Mamanucas, Fiji. Results revealed a 14.3% overall mean increase in scleractinian coral cover across the sites over the 12 month period. Non-Acropora corals increased from 9.8% in 2001 to 19.3% in 2002, whilst Acropora cover more than doubled from 3.3 to 8.0%. Between 2001 and 2002 the coral reefs of the Mamanucas progressed from ?poor? to ?fair? in accordance with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) systems for describing the health of coral reefs. This mean increase suggests a significant and encouraging recovery of scleractinian corals post bleaching in the Mamanucas region, an area famed for spectacular diving with a well-established tourist industry. The full paper will be published in the next edition of the Silliman Journal, or can be requested from the authors (Simon Harding or Ryan Walker). Coral reefs as experiential environmental education: Learning with Australian students. Carl Stepath, a PhD candidate at James Cook University, has organized his study so to involve students to take part in different marine education programs about coral reefs, based on programs developed by UNESCO and MTAQ (Marine Teachers Association of Queensland). Marine environmental education is the primary focus, but the state of coral reefs is also looked at. The aim is to monitor changes in the students? environmental awareness, attitudes and action skills with respect to coral reefs and education strategies. The research assesses the effectiveness of marine education programs in the region and contributes to developing tropical marine teaching strategies. Carl is exploring new ways of thinking about environmental knowledge, education and action with the use of RC methodology. For more information, contact Carl. (Editors note: Carl is the former RC Coordinators for Hawaii) Award for RC Hawaii Earthwatch in Philippines WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR TEAM IS UP TO!! |
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OTHER NEWSLETTERS |
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The global coral reef education, monitoring and management program. |
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Reef Check |
The 
RC has established a new country program in Papua New Guinea (PNG) with the support of the 
Vietnam is bordered by China, Laos and Cambodia. 
The team was finally able to get in the water to carry out the first stage of the in-water training on the reef in 1 m visibility. As the visibility improved a complete RC was carried out by the students. Everyone was very enthusiastic about getting involved in more monitoring and in making an effort to work closer with staff from the Ha Long Bay Management Authority. 
This was the second year that RC had a booth at DEMA's annual trade show held in Miami, October 8-11. RC volunteers provided eager dive professionals with information about how they could get involved, while Kelly met with travel agencies, resorts, dive operations and manufacturers to develop stronger corporate partnerships. RC teams including Fiji, Australia, Kosrae, Panama, Canada, Florida, and Mexico were all represented at DEMA this year, providing a wonderful opportunity for teams to collaborate and brainstorm on future activities. RC Canada launched a fabulous new t-shirt line, 
Some 30 participants and staff members, all from leading Mactan Island resorts, joined together on September 6 – 7 and 13 ? 14, 2003 for an integrated RC training and reef management course
RC Australia raised the flag at the Sydney Dive Expo this September along with a host of both Australian and Pacific dive operators, equipment and merchandise companies. Thanks to the generosity of Quiksilver International, the Dive Expo organizers and RC Headquarters, plus a little creative graphic design by Jos and volunteers in Townsville, RC Australia was able to set up an exhibit (along side the World Wide Fund for Nature). The expo was a huge success, RC volunteers from Sydney and Brazil answered queries from hundreds of visitors at the exhibition stand while Jos made sure she spoke to every person in the building about RC activities. The response was awesome with a 100% positive interest in RC from everyone we spoke to. We'd like to extend a thanks to everyone who was involved – the contacts made will undoubtedly push RC Australia to dizzying heights!
In July, RC was asked by SIBARIMAR on behalf of UNDP to train 26 park rangers and managers from the new MPA network in Cuba. During the first week, the participants were formally trained in scuba at Guanabo ? east of Havana. Several had been scuba diving for many years without a formal certification. This was followed by four days of classroom and in-water training with RC methods. The Cuban participants were enthusiastic, swimming long distances to reach the offshore reefs. Protecting coral reefs in Cuba is extremely important due to the fact that Acropora palmata (Elkhorn) stands there are some of the largest remaining in the Caribbean. On-going coral reef management work in Cuba will be supported by a grant from the 
In August, 
In August, Outreach Director Kelly McGee joined seven middle school students from the Chicago City Day School (CCDS) aboard the Coral Reef II Research Vessel to train them in RC methods. The trip was a collaborative effort between CCDS and the Shedd Aquarium and was the first middle school excursion that Shedd had ever offered in their history of their education program. Everyone worked tirelessly on learning all of the RC methods and definitely set a high standard for all of the middle school classes to follow. RC looks forward to collaborating with Shedd on a variety of educational programs. A special thanks to Captains John and Lou for making the trip memorable!! 
Teenagers from a number of high schools in Queensland are using the Great Barrier Reef as a classroom this year. 
