|
Madagascar: Community Run Marine Conservation Project Profile Total project need: $15,000 Local Project Leader: Alasdair Harris Project Sponsor: Seed Initiative/Seed Awards Theme: Environment Donation Options: Project Needs and Beneficiaries Southern Madagascar is home to the poverty-stricken Vezo fishing community, which relies on the rich biodiversity of the region's marine ecosystems for food and income. As part of Madagascar's policy to promote sustainable use of it's unique natural resources, Blue Ventures works with the Vezo to research and manage coastal resources for future generations. The success of these initiatives has resulted in widespread demand to replicate and develop these projects elsewhere in the country. Activities Developing community-centred conservation, education and research programmes aimed at safeguarding biodiversity, promoting sustainable resource use, protecting local livelihoods, and enhancing local capacity for independent resource management. Potential Long Term Impact The project's work is dedicated to the conservation of endangered coral reefs and marine habitats in southern Madagascar, developing environmental education and sustainable livelihoods initiatives for coastal communities that depend on them. Project Message "We work at a local level to protect some of the worlds most unique marine habitats, providing training, personnel and support for marine conservation initiatives in Africa's poorest coastal communities." - Alasdair Harris, Research Coordinator Organization - Blue Ventures Conservation Mission Blue Ventures Conservation (BVC) is a UK-based registered charity, dedicated to facilitating projects that enhance global marine conservation and research. Projects provide equipment, training and personnel as well as full time technical and logistical support for the development of community-centred marine conservation, education and research initiatives in the Western Indian Ocean region. Programs Blue Ventures works with local communities in southern Madagascar to establish pioneering community-run marine protected areas and other environmental conservation, fisheries enhancement and sustainable livelihood initiatives. In addition Blue Ventures trains villagers as marine guides for tourists, develops environmental education programs for children and trains over 200 local and international volunteers in marine research and conservation each year. Team Bios Alasdair Harris - Research Coordinator: Graduated from Edinburgh University with first class honours in zoology. Awarded an MSc in Environmental Change and Management from Oxford University where he chaired the University exploration society and organised research expeditions to Madagascar. Established Blue Ventures, where he is now responsible for overseeing the research programme Tom Savage - Managing Director: Tom graduated in Business Studies from Edinburgh University and completed a Masters in Management at Oxford University. At Edinburgh Tom's interest in social entrepreneurship led him to found the Entrepreneurial Society and he has also lead social and environmental research expeditions to Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia Anju Nihalani - Education Coordinator: Anju graduated from Manchester University with a BSc in Environmental Science, and completed a masters in Global Environmental Change and Policy at Imperial College London. Anju's work with Blue Ventures is focused on developing sustainable livelihood and marine environmental education initiatives. Statistics Tom Savage, Managing Director Contact Alasdair Harris, |
CONTACT US! SUSTAINABLE
TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL PHONE: 800-276-7764 info@SustainableTravelInternational.org BUSINESS HOURS: 8am-5pm MST |
|
Copyright
© 2003-2005. Sustainable Travel International. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use & Privacy Statement
|